Staff photo / Bob Coupland Girard FIRST Robotics Robocats team members Vivian Cessna, left, and Anthony Direnzo, both juniors, sharpen and clean lawn mower blades at the recent mower winterization fundraiser at Girard High School.

GIRARD — Members of the Girard FIRST Robotics Robocats Aptiv Team spent a day raising funds for their upcoming robotics season by winterizing lawn mowers for the public.

The successful fundraiser, which has taken place for the past 15 years, has helped the team raise more than $4,000.

Brandon Snyder of Girard, a former team member and now a team adviser / coach, said this year the team worked on more than 60 lawn mowers, which included sharpening the blades, putting in oil, stabilizer and gasoline, cleaning the inside and pressure washing.

“This is a major fundraiser for the team. The team enjoys this since it teaches them how to maintain and prepare lawn mowers for spring and shows them the importance of proper mower maintenance. They learn how to handle the tool when doing an oil change or sharpening blades,” Snyder said.

He said while the team learns how to build and program a robot, lawn mower winterization requires a different skill set.

“These are different skills we teach the students. When we build a robot, we do not work with small engines, spark plugs and oil. This is a completely different experience from what we teach them when building a robot,” Snyder said.

The event has taken place the first Saturday of December, regardless of the weather.

Parents and coaches help the students complete the necessary tasks on each mower.

Snyder, who graduated from Girard High School in 2019, came back to assist the team, first serving as assistant coach and then head build coach. His assistant is Liam Mathews, who is a 2017 Girard graduate.

Snyder said this fundraiser is the one in which parents get involved the most.

“We are fortunate that many parents help. Many dads are here working on the mowers, and there are moms helping too. They really help the team by stepping up,” he said.

Snyder said there are customers who come back each year.

TEAM PARTICIPATION

Vivian Cessna, a junior, said she likes the team collaboration and bonding when working on the mowers, with everyone handling a different task.

“I like the hands-on work. I helped check in the mowers and sharpen the blades,” said Cessna, who is marking her third year on the team. “I have learned new skills. I never sharpened lawn mower blades before.”

Cessna said being on the team takes dedication and pride in putting in the time to help while also handling schoolwork.

“I feel it is important for me to participate in whatever way I can,” she said.

Scott Siegal, a junior, said he spent the day pressure washing the mowers, which were then lined up along a sidewalk for pickup by the owners.

“This is my third year on the team and I have learned a lot from the different jobs for this fundraiser. I like power washing, but I am very wet. I have also helped people get their lawn mowers out of their cars. The customers are very appreciative,” Siegal said.

Jeff Krause of Girard, a parent of team member Riley Krause, said like any other parent, he wanted to do what he could to help the team.

“There are 12 dads and moms helping wherever they can today. I always look to see what is needed,” Krause said.

Ashraf Hadi, who has served in the past as team coach / adviser, said he attended the event to help where he could and to help Snyder.

“I am handing the head coach duties over to him,” Hadi said.

Snyder said what he does as an adviser is allow team members to gain new skills such as metalworking and woodshop.

“I like teaching the students actual skills they can use by learning to build new things,” Snyder said.

Girard resident Jerri McGinnis, who was picking up her lawn mower, said, “This is a wonderful event. It helps my mower to last longer. I love being able to help the team.” Team members helped McGinnis load her mower into the back of her vehicle.

The robotics students will meet in early January to see what their team challenge for the upcoming season will be.