Senators Hicks and Kirt honor Putnam City AFJROTC robotics team

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, honored the Putnam City High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (AFJROTC) robotics team in the state Senate Chamber this past week after they won three state champion awards.

“We wanted to honor them, not only for their triple success at the state level, but they are also moving on to compete in both the JROTC National Championship and the World Championship against 820 other schools, the first time a JROTC unit has competed in both competitions at once,” Hicks said. “I’m also proud that one of the team members, Joseph Thomas, is my former kindergarten student.”

Kirt and Hicks presented a citation to the team members, including Thomas, Tyler Miller, Samuel Hickey, and Braylon Page, for their achievements and Frank Mattair, retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Putnam City’s AFJROTC instructor, for fostering a positive learning environment and encouragement of his students.

“AFJOTC helps build leadership skills, and participation in robotics encourages the development of STEM skills as well,” Kirt said. “This is a huge win for the team, and we’re extremely proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish so far. I’m sure these students will go on to tremendous success throughout their lives.”

Mattair thanked the Senate for the team’s recognition, noting this was the first year they’d participated in the robotics competition. He laughed as he told the senators, because they were just starting out, he assumed they’d lose, but that it would be a good life lesson.

“Boy, did they prove me wrong. I’m immensely, immensely proud of these kids,” Mattair said. “They put in the work, they put in the blood, they put in the tears. They are one of the six teams total to represent the state at the world’s tournament, however, they are the only unit in the country that is both going to the ROTC nationals and to the all-high school world’s competition, and this is all in their first year of robotics.”   

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CUTLNE:  Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, presented a citation on the Senate floor honoring the Putnam City Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Robotics Team for earning three state champion awards and being invited to compete in both the JROTC National Championship and the World Championship in robotics.  Pictured are Braylon Page, Samuel Hickey, instructor Frank Mattair, Joseph Thomas, and Tyler Miller.

For more information, contact:  
Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov
Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov