More Than 60 Students Build Robots at Google-Sponsored NACC Camp

RAINSVILLE — More than 60 rising seventh- and eighth-grade students built and operated robots at Northeast Alabama Community College in July.

The college held the summer camp with financial support and employee mentors from Google.

Students Build and Race Robots

Campers came from DeKalb and Jackson counties, along with several other counties. NACC introduced them to engineering and mechatronics through a hands-on project.

Each student assembled a remote-controlled robot from scratch. Campers then learned the controls and raced their robots inside NACC’s new Workforce Skills Training Center.

Google funded the event and sent employees to work directly with the students. Those volunteers helped campers build, test and operate their robots.

NACC also gave campers lunch, snacks and T-shirts during the event.

College President Dr. David Campbell said the camp allowed students to explore the world of robotics.

“They made their own small robot!” Campbell said.

Campbell credited Barbara Kilgore with organizing the event and conducting the training. Kilgore serves as NACC’s dean of Workforce Development and Skills Training.

Kilgore said the camp also showed students what NACC offers in robotics and mechatronics.

Connecting Campers With Technical Careers

NACC’s Mechatronics and Robotics Industrial Electronics Technology program combines mechanical systems, electronics and automation.

Students learn about robotic systems, programmable controllers, industrial electronics and troubleshooting. They can pursue an associate degree, a certificate or a short-term certificate.

Advanced coursework covers industrial controls, instrumentation, process control and industrial robotics. Students can later gain workplace experience through the program’s cooperative training component.

Google’s support continues an existing partnership with the college. A Google-sponsored STEM camp held at NACC in 2023 drew nearly 100 fifth- through eighth-grade students.

That two-day event also gave campers an opportunity to build and race remote-controlled robots.

Google operates a data center in Jackson County. The company says it has invested more than $2 billion in Alabama since building the facility in 2018.

The latest camp connected younger students with technology used in modern manufacturing and automation. It also gave them an early look at technical education and career opportunities.