On Dec. 4, three Roseville Engineering Science and Technology (R.E.S.T.) club members, the club’s teacher chaperones, and a former member of R.E.S.T. traveled to the Capitol Building in Lansing to present video games that each student coded and designed. Although they only had a month to complete their games, that did not stop them from coding unique games and designs. For some of the students, it took no time at all to code.

Sophomore Ayden Popkey created a Star Wars themed shooter game, senior Xavier Woodward coded a Space Invaders style game and senior Marissa Hedrick designed a game similar to Guitar Hero. They all coded their games through a website called MakeCode Arcade. 

“At first I messed up the game when the computer decided to delete it. Then I came back strong and made the game I presented in 20 minutes. It was a cool experience and I’m really happy R.E.S.T. got this level of outreach,” Hedrick said.

The team was there to represent GHI Electronics, a local electronics company that sponsors R.E.S.T. The company was able to provide each student with a BrainPad Arcade system that allows them to code on the website and import it directly to the board to play.

During the day the team members encouraged other students from different schools to test out their creations. They also demonstrated to others how to create and code their own games.

At the end of the day, R.E.S.T. was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the Michigan Senate given to them by senator Paul Wojno.

“This opportunity gives our students the chance to show off their S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education skills in front of people who have real influence over education in the state of Michigan. Maybe, by seeing the fantastic things that our students can accomplish, they will be able to have a pathway that can lead them to career choices that the future workshop demands,” R.E.S.T. club leader Robert Smitka said.