News Photo by Charles Madison Members of the Alpena High School robotics team made a presentation to the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education during its meeting on Monday. The students presented their robot, TUG, which deftly maneuvered its way around the stage, hurling balls to members of the audience. Alpena High School Robotics Team 5505 competed in the FIRST Robotics championships in Houston last month after finishing 69th out of 458 teams in district competition at Saginaw Valley State University. Additionally, the team received more than $18,000 in financial support from the community, including a cash award of $15,000 from the Economic Generator Network, a Northeast Michigan innovation network. “Plans were made at the last minute to get the kids down there (to Texas),” said Melissa Doubek, AHS teacher and interim coach. “I am so grateful to the community, because these kids have had some amazing robots the past two years, and have suffered so many disappointments. For the community to step forward and support these kids so they could compete on the big stage was outstanding.”