Team History

Thunderstorm Robotics Team History

Team 1750 Thunderstorm Robotics was founded in 2005 by Ron Markum. He was asked by his department Head at Oklahoma State University to assist in some complex engineering mathematics for a high school robotics team who were being sponsored by his employer Oklahoma State University. While helping this team from Ponca City Oklahoma Team 476, the Wildcats, Ron discovered FIRST Robotics and its mission “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.” His experience helping as a mentor lead him to start a team in his own community, Stillwater, OK, the following year. Thunderstorm Robotics has been a part of the Stillwater community for 15 years and continues to build well rounded future leaders through the fun and excitement of learning and discovery through STEM education and challenges.

Over the years Thunderstorm Robotics has competed in many different STEM based challenges including the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), First Lego League (FLL), BEST Robotics, VEX Robotics competition, and new this year with the forming of an amateur miniature robot fighting league. It has helped many students learn and grow to take their experiences and apply them to many career fields in everything from Mechanical engineering to Graphic Design and everything in between.