Mount Olive Ministries

Robotic Students Make Impact at “Ole Miss” in High School State Robotics Competition

Pictured are Coach Ray Holt and Team Purple Thunder members Caleb Lee, Cynahmon Lee, Marcus Brown, Tremaine Easterling, Hieu Dang, Alexis Drake, Hannah Love, Marquavious Sims, Whitney Schreiber, Alana Peden, and Mariah Duckworth. (Photo credit: Michelle Pesek)

On March 2nd, eleven students (Hieu Dang, Mariah Duckworth, Marquavious Sims, Alexis Drake, Caleb Lee, Whitney Schreiber, Hannah Love, Cynahmon Lee, Alana Peden, Marcus Brown, and Tremaine Easterling) from the Mount Olive Ministries Robotics Program (Team Purple Thunder) competed in the FIRST^® Tech Challenge hosted by the University of Mississippi’s Center for Math and Science Education.

Team Purple Thunder received 1^st Place in the Innovative Award (Best Robot Design), 2^nd in the Inspire Award (Overall), and ranked as a top three Finalists in the following categories: First Tech Challenge Design Award, the Motivate Award, and the Connect Award.  There are only two teams from Mississippi that will be competing against 100 teams in the World Robotic Competition which is to be held in St. Louis, MO on April 24 – 27, 2013.  The teams are Techno Warriors Advanced from Brandon, MS, and Mount Olive Ministries’ Team Purple Thunder.

Instructor/coach Ray Holt (a technology pioneer and computer scientist) states, “I am one very proud coach. I knew if they stayed with the program and worked hard, they could be in the top two.  These students represented Mount Olive, Magee, and Prentiss with honor and class.”

According to the robot builders (Caleb, Hieu, Marcus, and Tremaine), “We were confident in our robot to perform very well during competition.”  They added that after the report from the spy members (Hannah, Cynahmon, and Alexis), they knew their robot would out perform their opponents. The spy members were responsible for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents’ robots and report their findings to the team.  According to Whitney (team captain) and Marquavious, “the spy report reconfirmed that doing the best with what you have and taking advantage of the people around you make great things happen.”  When the robot drivers (Caleb, Hieu, and Mariah) saw the spy report, they put together an alliance game plan that led the team to St. Louis. If you would like to follow Team Purple Thunder during their competition, visit them at www.facebook.com/TeamPurpleThunder. You can also watch video at:  www.youtube.com/ftcteampurplethunder .

While Techno Warriors is sponsored by Nissan, Tony C. Duckworth (President/chief fundraiser of Mount Olive Ministries) is busy seeking sponsors for Team Purple Thunder.  “Mr. Holt kept telling me a few days before the event that the kids had a good chance to finish in the top two,” said Duckworth.  “When I saw the other 28 teams with major sponsors, I prayed and asked God to bless our team to perform to the best of their ability. Operating on a low budget can be stressful, but our students demonstrated they can compete against anyone anywhere at any time,” stated Duckworth.

According to Duckworth, “I am busy working to raised the $25,000 needed to ensure all fees, lodging, traveling, material, and additional equipment by April 2 to pay for the St. Louis trip.”  Duckworth is thankful for the support of Mississippi Hub, Real Foundation, and Brandon Petroleum Properties.  Special thanks to John Schreiber for underwriting the hotel cost, Walter Blain, Sr. for underwriting the food cost, and the parents for helping fundraise.

If you are interested in sponsoring Team Purple Thunder for the World Robotic Competition, please contact Tony C. Duckworth at 601.466.0600 or at tonycduckworth@bellsouth.net.  Sponsorship checks can be mailed to P.O. 875, Mt. Olive, MS  39119.  Checks should be made payable to Mount Olive Ministries.  Online support can be made at www.mtoliveministries.com.  All checks are tax deductible.

Robotics students excels at the Ole Miss engineering water tower competition

Seven high school students from the Mount Olive Ministries’ Robotic Program (Hao Dang, Mariah Duckworth, Hannah Dukette, Antawn Easterling, Hannah Love, Alana Peden, and Marquivous Sims) loaded the ministry’s bus with water tower engineering equipment, overnight clothes, and many good-byes and “do well” encouragements from classmates and family members.

The students competed in The University of Mississippi’s annual Engineering Design Competition for high-school students sponsored by the university’s School of Engineering, the Center for Mathematics and Science Education on February 24^th.

For two 17-year-old students (Hao Dang and Antawn Easterling) from Mount Olive Attendance Center, the event has already impacted their lives.  Easterling received notification on Monday March 26^th that he has been accepted into the University of Mississippi Engineering Program. He will be majoring in electrical engineering. He says being a part of the Mount Olive Ministries’ Robotic Program influenced his decision. Two weeks later, Dang was accepted into the University of Mississippi Engineering Program as well.  Toward the end of the Water Tower Competition, Scott Kilpatrick (Assistant Dean for Student Services, School of Engineering at The University of Mississippi) approached both Dang and Easterling about the opportunity of receiving scholarship funds for the Engineering Program.

Approximately 10 to 15 high school teams compete each year in the competition designed to help students understand how math and science correlates to real-world problems.

Mount Olive Ministries High School Teams to Compete in Ole Miss Water Tower Engineering Competition

Mount Olive Ministries will be represented by two teams at the Ole Miss Water Tower Engineering Competition on Friday, February 24, 2012.  The Mount Olive students are Antawn Easterling, Mariah Duckworth, Alana Peden, Hao Dang, Hannah Dukette, Hannah Love, Marquavias Sims.   This University of Mississippi Engineering Competition is for high-school students. The competition is sponsored by the School of Engineering, the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE), and the Division of Outreach.

Mount Olive Ministries Robotics Team Earns High Ranking in State Robotics Competition

Mount Olive Ministries’ (MOM) Warriors Robotics team earned first place for Presentation and fifth place ranking in the robot challenge in the Robotics Alliance of Mississippi (RAM) State Competition held December 3, 2011 at Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.

Coming within three points of taking second place, the Warriors competed against 46 teams for the top position.

Tony C. Duckworth, president of MOM, couldn’t be happier. It has only been a year and a half since Duckworth implemented a Rural Robotics Program (RRP) as a component of MOM. It is also the first time RRP students have entered a competition.

“I am so proud,” says Duckworth. “To see them compete for the first time and walk away with a first place award is phenomenal.”

The Warriors were the only competing team within a 50-mile radius of Hattiesburg.

Hannah Love, an eighth-grader at Mount Olive Attendance Center, Mt. Olive, Miss., was anxious about the competition. Competitors held low expectations of them she said.

California Native Adapts to Southern Living Through Serving

Nearly two years ago, Ray Holt, having sold most of his possessions, was living in a motorhome in Oklahoma ready to embark upon a new adventure. Except, what the adventure would be, he wasn’t exactly sure. He did know, however, that he wanted to serve. His thoughts were to serve as he traveled the USA. visiting State and Federal Parks. 

At 65, the divorced father had raised three sons in California; Mark, Mike, & Brett.  Having been born and raised in Los Angeles he didn’t know much about the rest of the country.  His work took him to Silicon Valley (San Jose,CA) where he became a pioneer in the computer industry.  He’d also made quite a name for himself in the world of technology, having become recognized as the founding father of the world’s first microprocessor chip (a chip that places the central elements of a computer onto silicon chips.  The invention launched the digital revolution that now sells billions of units a year). As a volunteer he also founded and ran a youth-based non-profit organization called the Christian Athletic Association, Inc for 25 years that served over 10,000 youth in soccer, basketball, baseball and mission trips.

An article in The Wall Street Journal written September 22, 1998, also credits Holt for his pioneering work of a parallel multi-microprocessor chip set for the U.S. Navy’s F-14A “Tomcat” fighter jet which simultaneously calculated air speed, wing position and altitude.  On September 1, 2009 the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum magazine also recognized this work as one of the top 10 unique and innovative designs of the 20^th century making flying safer and easier.  Holt’s website is located at:  FirstMicroprocessor.com

NASA Offers Math Advancement Class

NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program is offering a mathematics advancement class for middle and high school students.  The Gifted Math Program is an afterschool group that meets once a week.  It offers enrichment and enhancement for students in middle and high school by studying fields of math that are not normally covered in high school.  Mrs. Eowyn Cenek, a PhD student in the Dept. of Mathematics at the University of Southern Mississippi, instructs the class.
Topics covered in the program include cryptography, logic, network/graph theory and advanced problem solving techniques.  Cryptography is the study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties.  It is a commonly used application when dealing with ATM cards, computer passwords, and electronic commerce. Using graph theory, engineers develop computer chips for optimizing processing speed and electrical efficiency.  With the advancements in digital technology, this program is designed to increase scientific literacy by inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The class meets every Wednesday for nine weeks at Mount Olive Ministries from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. For more information, contact Tony Duckworth at 601-466-0600.

2011-12 Rural Robotics In Full Swing

The new school year is in full swing.  Excitement and curiosity fills the atmosphere for the children and teens enrolled in the Rural Robotics Program at Mt. Olive Ministries.  Each week, the students examine scientific techniques in solar mechanics and civil engineering.  Within the semester, two projects are completed by each class of students.

Each class is lectured on the design and function of the upcoming hands-on experiment.  Before the actual hands-on approach begins, each child must fully understand the importance of safety procedures in the laboratory.

When asked why safety is important, Joseph Crouse, age 11, of Brandon, MS, replied, “Following the rules protects everyone.  It keeps mistakes from happening.”

The first project was to build a solar-powered, model car built on wooden frames.  Through instruction from Mr. Ray Holt, each student gained an understanding of the effects of solar energy converted to electrical energy and ultimately transferred into mechanical energy.  Volunteers from the senior robotics class assisted the children in the construction of their cars.  Alana Peden, 16, and Antawn Easterling, 17, both of Mt. Olive shared their knowledge with the students.  A small motor with lead wires, wheels, and a solar panel were attached to the frame. The students performed several troubleshooting test phases before the final race.  Upon completion, the cars were judged for speed, appearance and functionality.

Mount Olive Ministries hosts KIDS ZONE

Another wonderful opportunity offered by Mount Olive Ministries (MOM) is an after school tutoring program.  Parents with children from grades K-6 are encouraged to take advantage of this great program.  Hours are from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Additional tutoring is also provided by First United Methodist Church through a partnership with MOM on Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  All grades and subjects are welcomed to join.  Children must bring their textbooks and homework assignments to the tutoring session.

To fill out an application or if you need more information, call Shannon at 601-797-4377.