Howdy! Our annual Howdython is our own fundraiser that is the biggest resource for our team. Since our team is not directly affiliated with any schools we cannot rely on a source of money in the same way that other teams do. Because of this our team relies on our community in order to continue participating in robotics. We do this through our annual telethon where family, friends, and anyone else interested donates to our team. Our telethon consists of videos filmed and edited by our students along with interviews that are done live on twitch. This allows anyone outside of the team to get a good look at what we do here at the Howdybots, this ranges from events that we hosted, past competitions, showing off our robots, and going into the community to talk about our robotics. Our Howdython is the way that we, the Howdybots, are able to continue moving forward teaching students about STEM for years to come.
When making the Howdython, first we figure out what videos we want to film. Students will vote on which videos/ subjects they would like to participate in. This year we separated students into 14 groups to plan what they want to do on each video. Some students choose to do a game while others come up with a skit on their subject. Coming up with and adding their own writing into the scripts are eventually going to be recorded. Some students will work on multiple videos but everyone has a role and video to participate in where they are able to add their own input. While writing scripts students are constantly revising and changing their writing to what they find is best when they go into practicing it.
Once everyone is happy with their practice they start recording, many scripts are recorded twice in order to cut, replace, and move parts while editing. Many recordings are done in one take such as the shop tour. Some recordings take longer than others but once they are done it is moved into a google drive where each group has their own folder. Then it is moved into Davinci Resolve where each student works on editing their own video to where they want it, this makes it possible to change the recording in any way to finalize how the video will look and sound on the livestream. Everyone on the team put time into learning and getting used to using Davinci Resolve eventually getting their videos where they want it.
For weeks students have been working hard on their scripts and videos preparing for the Howdython. Students have been coming up with what they wanted their video to be, whether that is a skit, voice over, or game. Going through multiple trials and takes once students had their recordings they went straight to editing, first learning the program and how to edit their video they were then able to cut and move scenes as they desired. Over the span of six weeks everyone has been working towards our Howdython for a fun and entertaining live stream for family and friends to enjoy with games, skits, and other videos about our team and what we do.
While some students were recording their videos other students were also working hard as MC’s practicing and reading their scripts for when the Howdython is presented live on twitch. MC’s will also prepare their own questions for other students and mentors for interviews that will be live as well. There are multiple MC’s and they will be rotated in shifts throughout the telethon so that each one has time on screen but also has time for breaks. Once all of the videos from each group are finalized in editing then they are organized together where they will be played during the live with breaks added in for interviews and other skits.
Students will be watching over the livestream in order to catch any questions that people may ask on twitch. While the livestream goes on students will also be taking shifts answering and making calls with mentors at their side to answer any questions that someone may have, this is when most of our donations happen as we are able to help anyone having trouble trying to make a donation. The livestream consists of skits and shoutouts with live mc’s and all the videos written, recorded, and edited by each student. Once the telethon has run its course we thank each of the people who participated and donated to the team. Everyone worked very hard in order to give insight on what our team accomplishes in an entertaining way while donors ensure that we are able to continue participating in FRC. We had a wonderful telethon this year, stay tuned for next year’s telethon with new ideas made by our students!
