Meet Team 1493 President: Onovu

Student achievement: Onovu Otitigbe-Dangerfield

Onovu Otitigbe-Dangerfield asks a million questions.

Her curiosity, smarts and persistence have paid off. With her near-perfect GPA, the Albany High School senior is poised to be valedictorian of the Class of 2021.

She will be the first African-American valedictorian in the school’s history. Reaching that milestone is empowering, she said. 

“An image speaks realities into existence that people can’t necessarily envision for themselves unless they get to see that representation for themselves,” she said. 

She hopes to use the platform to inspire not only other young women of color, but individuals throughout her community.

School always was a priority for Otitigbe-Dangerfield, who also was valedictorian of her eighth-grade class at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School.

“I come from a Nigerian household, so education has always been important,” Otitigbe-Dangerfield said.

She also liked school and was eager to learn.

“I’ve always been curious and my desire to learn is what motivated me to be dedicated to studying and seeking to understand content,” she said.

Her family provides the chief inspiration for her work ethic, providing her with a group of strong role models from professions that range from engineering to teaching to child-care. Other critical support came from the teachers, guidance counselors and coaches who encouraged her learn, create and innovate.

Ellen Green was Otitigbe-Dangerfield’s middle school guidance counselor, and the two remain close.

“Even in her middle school years, Onovu navigated systemic roadblocks and was a champion for her education, which of course continued to drive her toward increased confidence and success,” Green said.

“Being in her presence for only a minute will allow you to realize she will make the world a better place.”

Technology teacher Allen Landman taught Otitigbe-Dangerfield all four years of high school and worked with her on the school’s robotics team. He said she’s one of the best students he’s ever had the pleasure to teach.

“Onovu’s ability to challenge herself and still persevere has always been something I admire most about her,” Landman said. “She has always exhibited a combination of a positive attitude and a desire to constantly seek more knowledge. 

“I know she will continue to display the same level of commitment in everything she does.”

Joshua Binfield, her longtime soccer coach, sees Otitigbe-Dangerfield as an inspiration.

“Onovu’s charisma, intelligence and work ethic make me proud to work at Albany High School, and she motivates me to empower other girls just like her,” Binfield said. “She can and will achieve anything she puts her mind to, just like she has in her time at Albany High, breaking down barriers as a Black female leader.”

Otitigbe-Dangerfield said people like Green, Landman and Binfield have helped her grow academically and personally.

“I’ve been able to develop a lot of confidence with the support I have,” she said. 

With that confidence, came leadership skills.

For example, Otitigbe-Dangerfield isn’t just at the head of her class. She also is president of the robotics team, president of Key Club and editor-in-chief of the online school newspaper The Nest. 

She sings in the Select Choir and plays violin and piano in the Jazz Improv Band. She’s also part of a group of seniors that operates the Student Technology Help Desk. She also makes time on weekends to work at a nursing home, be involved in church activities and binge-watch reality TV shows and episodes of “Law and Order” with her grandmother.

“Yes, I sleep,” she said when questioned about her busy schedule. 

Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams first met Otitigbe-Dangerfield when the student was at the top her freshman class at Albany High.

“I am thrilled to see her accomplish the goal of valedictorian,” Adams said. “Onovu is an inspiration not only to her peers, but adults as well. 

“Her determination, work ethic and commitment to excellence model what it takes to be focused on your destination while still enjoying the journey. I am very proud of her.”

In the future, Otitigbe-Dangerfield hopes to specialize in pediatric robotic-assisted neurosurgery and become a “surgineer,” an emerging field that combines the interdisciplinary aspects of robotic design and performing surgery.

As for the future? Harvard and Yale universities have accepted Otitigbe-Dangerfield, and she’s waiting to hear from other schools before she makes a final decision this spring.

onovu.jfif

Team Shirt Designs Through The Years

Team 1493 has split into groups for this year's FIRST challenges.

The pandemic has changed many things including how the robotics competitions are being done. This year FIRST robotics is challenging teams with different at home challenges. Team 1493 has decided to split into groups to complete these challenges.

Team 1493 has split into three groups to focus on this year’s challenges and one group to focus on support for the team.

One group is focused on the “FIRST Innovation Challenge”. Teammates working in this group will focus on the innovation challenge identifying a problem or opportunity and design a solution to help people or a community keep, regain, or achieve optimal physical and/or mental health through active play or movement.

Our “FIRST Game Design” group designs FIRST robotics competition games. We will compete against teams to pitch our game to possibly become an official FIRST game. We will also compete against other teams for awards.

Another group will be focused on the “FIRST Skills Challenge”. Teammates in this group will work with our FRC robot to complete the various challenges that highlight the skill and capabilities of our robot. This group will also be involved in the “Judges Award” group that has to explain our robot and team history in detail to a panel of online judges in a live interview.

Our “Support” group is made of teammates that focus on supporting our team. Teammates in this group focus on maintaining our team’s website, help with fundraising and grants, and create new logos for our team.

New Team Logo Ideas

Support Team has been working on new designs for our team logo. They will continue to work on these designs and additional designs.

Top Row #1-#3, Second Row #4-#6, Third Row #7-#9, Fourth Row #10-#12, Fifth Row #13-#15, Sixth Row #16-#18. Please email Mr. Kissane at rkissane@albany.k12.ny.us with your top 3 new team logo choices.

Sponsors for the 2020-2021 Season

Team 1493 is happy to announce the following sponsors are aiding the team this 2021 robotics season. We are very grateful for their help assisting the team for this season. A big thank you and virtual applause for the following sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors

  • Albany Public Schools

  • National Grid

  • Gene Haas Foundation

Gold Sponsors

  • GE Gas

  • Simmons Machine Tool

  • FIRST

  • Turner Construction

Silver Sponsors

  • FLUOR

  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

  • Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP)

  • Exxon Mobil

Bronze Sponsors

  • NASA

  • Albany Booster Club

  • RPI

  • CAPCOM

  • Southend Powder Coating

  • Phillips Hardware

  • Stewart’s Shops

  • AM&J Digital

  • Laboratory Robot Interest Group

  • Price Chopper

  • Curtis Lumber

Photos of some Arduinos Projects That Are Under Construction

Row 1:* Zvi Zeroun Thor Saugat

Row 2:* Portia Logan Trent Nolan

Row 3: Trent Saugat Thor Santino

*Names associated with photos from left to right

Photos of some of the VEX robots under construction

Row 1:* Endri Pyae Santino Jackson

Row 2:* Morgan Elijah Kevin Alpha

Row 3:* Cole Dorothy Andre Noah

Row 4:* Vicente Brodey Onovu Cole

Row 5:* Pyae Onovu Noah *Names associated with photos from left to right

Welcome to the 2020-2021 FIRST Robotics Team 1493 Year

Our plans for the 2020-2021 year will be much different from the previous 18 years. FIRST will not be holding their usual robot design, build and competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our plans for this year began in early November once the district gave us permission to hold our club in a virtual manner. We recruited 25 new members to the team bringing us to a total of 45 members. Our plan is as follows: Build team supplied VEX robots which students will build and program for a mini in-team competitions in December and January lead by Mr. Cady, Mr. Landman and Mr. Allen. Other students will be learning coding and programming using an Arduino supplied by the team lead by Dr. Castagna. FIRST will be having a ‘Skills Competition” using the unused 2020 robot in January and February. This will be a virtual competition where teams record their robot performing a series of challenges and recording their efforts. FIRST will be giving awards based upon their recorded efforts.