I love the opportunity to work on a team of like-minded individuals to collectively accomplish projects that none of us would be capable of independently.
Meet Robert
You will find Robert involved in many of the student-run engineering and technology projects across campus. During the stay-at-home orders last spring, Robert joined a team of students printing life-saving PPE for hospitals on the Academy’s 3D printers. Currently, he is helping to build and maintain a computer server on campus.
Robert's Class Schedule
Period 1
AP English Literature and Composition | Instructor: Daniel Ball
In this class, students read and analyze some of the great literary classics and poetry from a variety of periods and genres. Literary texts include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Shakespeare’s King Lear, and Camus’ The Stranger. Further, this course functions as an advanced writing class. Essays include literary and poetry analysis, research, persuasive essays, and creative writing.
Period 2
AP Spanish | Instructor: Jessica Hands
The goal of this course is to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language exam. In addition, the course focuses on the study of Latin American literature, film, current events, and Latin American/Spanish culture. Students develop skills in academic writing, interpretation of authentic listening/reading sources, and presentational speaking.
Period 3
3D Design: CAD | Instructor: Josh Burick
This engineering course takes an in-depth look at how to use the 3D drawing CAD program Fusion 360. CAD is a critical skill for future engineers. By the time students finish this course, they will be fluent in how to effectively use parametric modeling to design, simulate, and manufacture their projects over the course of the semester. In addition to Fusion 360, students will be using 3D printing and CNC technology.
What began with a passion for Minecraft, has grown into an ambitious technological undertaking. Today, the server is a conglomeration of enterprise-level hardware very similar to the type used in Amazon and Google data centers.
Period 4
Engineering Design | Instructor: Josh Burick
Four areas of engineering (mechanical, programming, electrical, and biological) are examined in this course. Students pick an area of interest on which to build final semester-long project. This course is invaluable for honing research and problem-solving skills in a creative hands-on approach.
Period 5
AP Physics C | Instructor: David Tollefsen
The AP Physics C course is an in-depth study of mechanics, matter, and energy for the first semester, and electricity and magnetism second semester. This course is the equivalent of a first-year calculus-based college physics class. This course is geared toward those students interested in majoring in physics or engineering and is mathematically intensive.
Period 6
AP Statistics | Instructor: Luke Regan
This course is designed for the dedicated student who wishes to gain a solid foundation in general statistics in preparation for further study of the material in his/her college major(s). Students taking AP Statistics will learn how to describe categorical and quantitative data through contingency tables, box plots, histograms, normal models and z-scores; create and interpret scatterplots; determine association, correlation, and lines of best fit; compare various methods for choosing a sample from a population; design experiments which utilize blocking, double blinding, and control groups. Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, randomness and probability round out this yearlong course.
Period 7
AP Economics | Instructor: Nate Leman
The AP Economics course combines one semester of Microeconomics and one semester of Macroeconomics to provide students with a thorough understanding of economic theory. During first semester, students will focus on Microeconomics, examining principles that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. Second semester, the course focuses on Macroeconomics and how economists examine aggregate economic behavior. Students learn how the measures of economic performance, such as gross domestic product, inflation, and unemployment are constructed and how to apply them to evaluate the macroeconomic conditions of an economy.
My role, as customer relations representative on the server project team, allows me to connect with numerous high-level employees at international companies and has greatly strengthened my communication skills.
After School: Server Project
In 2019, the Server Project kicked off when a small group of students approached Mr. Regan with their idea to build a server. Today, the server is a conglomeration of enterprise-level hardware very similar to the type used in Amazon and Google data centers. Robert is the primary consumer relations representative on the team. He shares, “This role allows me to connect with numerous high-level employees at international companies and has greatly strengthened my communication skills.”
What is the MASTER Program?
MASTER stands for Mathematics, Applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. Every student at Wheaton Academy participates in the MASTER Program by taking math and science classes throughout high school. In addition to the core math and science classes, the MASTER program also provides students with cutting edge opportunities in robotics, technology, engineering, and laboratory research.