With continued efforts across the nation to slow the spread of COVID-19, many West Linn-Wilsonville students and staff have spent their increased time at home to help combat the global pandemic.

Robotics students from Wilsonville and West Linn High Schools, in particular, have stepped up in a big way in recent weeks. Students from both schools, who compete in the First Robotics Competition league during the school year, started out by using their unique skillsets to create Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health professionals and first responders.

While students from West Linn’s Team 7034 To Be Determined and Wilsonville’s Team 1425 Error Code Xero spend the competition season as friendly rivals, they’ve turned teammates in the common fight against COVID-19.  Creating much-needed equipment for Health Professionals across the Portland Metro area, students have used 3-D Printing technology to manufacture face shields and other PPE parts and masks for healthcare professionals at Meridian Park Hospital and OHSU.

With the robotics season still in flux, it would have been natural for robotics students to become dismayed, but the talented group instead set their efforts on helping those on the frontlines across the region.

Using resources from across the district, and thanks to donations from community partners such as the West Linn Public Library, students, staff members, and parent volunteers have continued to produce PPE equipment throughout the extended closure. But after days of work, students are now running out of school resources to continue creating PPE equipment. Students are seeking filament from the West Linn-Wilsonville. To donate to their cause, please contact Team 7023 at wlhsfrc@gmail.com or Team 1425 at errorcodexero@gmail.com.