Something amazing happened with the opening of a Robotics Club in Boys Town Jerusalem in 2011. As students took their first steps into discovering the world of robotics, they opened the gates to making important strides in Israel’s technological, military and other crucial spheres in the future.
The Follender Robotics Center transformed robotics at BTJ
Today, the trophy chest in BTJ’s modern, well-equipped Follender Robotics Center mirrors such impressive victories as national championships in FLL and FTC “FIRST” Robotics competitions. Over the past 14 years, students’ lives have been transformed by the school’s extracurricular Robotics activities. Grads are found in top Israeli high- tech spheres, while others contribute their skills to special IDF Research and Development units saving lives of both soldiers and civilians.
In 2013, Boys Town Jerusalem’s state-of-the-art Judge David and Irma Follender Robotics Center was dedicated. “The Follender family’s generous funding and continuous care in maintaining the center’s cutting-edge facilities is a vital gift for Israel’s future,” notes BTJ CEO Yoni Strimber.
BTJ Robotics students continue to mentor
Shay Neuhaus, 20, entered BTJ’s Robotics team as an eighth grader and never left. Continuing to coach the BTJ Robotics team, Shay now serves in a prestigious IDF program to gain an MA degree in Electrical Engineering before serving as an officer in a technological unit. This year, he mentored BTJ’s FTC Robotics team to a stunning #2 rank in the entire nation.
“Our highly well-equipped Robotics Center is protecting Israel’s safety,” Shay stresses. “Grads serving in IDF technological units ‘come home’ to use our advanced 3D printers for manufacturing custom-designed components to improve weapon performance.”
Over the summer break – interrupted by the Iranian War – BTJ’s Robotics team undertook the massive voluntary commitment to officially host an Israeli FTC competition on campus for newly-formed teams. “We’ve come a long way!” Shay admits proudly.