Senior Spotlight: Bal creates splash in world of Robotics and Pool
From leading Wildcats in the pool, to creating unique prototypes and programming software, senior Eric Bal has stirred the waters of innovation and success. Swim coach and English teacher Kelly Wayne appreciates Bal’s spirit as both an athlete and an innovator.
“Eric has always been unapologetically himself,” Wayne said. “Over the last four years, I've watched him work hard to achieve his goals and continue to grow as a person through Eagle Scouts, Wave Robotics, swim, and more. I think he has grown more confident in himself and that has been really fun to watch.”
Known as the life of the team, Bal brings the fun to the pool by providing speakers and lights to practice and cheering loudly for his teammates at events.
“My favorite part about being on the swim team isn’t winning,” he said. “It’s the practices and the friends there that make it fun. I’ve learned to not always take it too seriously and to have fun with it.”
As captain of the Boys Swim Team, Bal has found a way to lead with integrity while also maintaining the lively nature of the team.
“I felt accomplished in knowing that people trusted me enough to voice their opinion to Kel,” he said. “People look up to you as a captain to set a good example. In swimming, you don't want to complain all the time to the coach; I would take their problems and ideas and deliver them to the coach in a better fashion.”
While juggling school work, volunteering in the community and swimming, Bal also is heavily involved with the Wave robotics team.
“Many students would have a hard time balancing all of the activities that Eric does,” Wayne said. “I feel this speaks volumes about his time management skills and character.”
Bal has been a part of Wave robotics, a youth competitive STEM program, since freshman year.
“There are 30 students involved in Wave and you get to know them well when you put in 300 hours during a build season,” he said. “It is more or less family at that point, and we really get to know each other on a personal level.”
Through hands-on experience working with the team, Bal has learned many valuable lessons about resilience and flexibility.
“I've learned that your first choice isn't always your best choice,” he said. “With prototyping, you can't know that your first idea is your best idea. It has taught me to adapt and overcome because if something breaks or doesn't go to plan, it's about how fast you can adapt to the scenario and overcome the situation.”
Not only has working with Wave introduced him to the world of STEM, but it has also provided Bal with international travel opportunities.
“I was one of six members selected for an all-expenses-paid vacation to go to China, tour the area, and compete in a competition in Hangzhou China,” he said. “Whilst mentoring a rookie team teaching them to build strategies, we helped them compete as they don’t know much about robotics.”
The skills acquired in this experience, along with other factors, has led Bal to obtain a highly-coveted internship at Oshkosh Corporation, one of just four selected out of hundreds of applicants.
“My high GPA, STEM-related courses, and my involvement with the robotics program have helped me to gain experience in STEM and engineering fields, which is why I was selected to join the Oshkosh youth apprenticeship program,” he said.
Working at the newest waterside Oshkosh location, Bal’s skills from the classroom have become skills in the outside world.
“In robotics, there is 3D modeling that I have used to design the robot,” he said. “This directly relates to what I am doing right now: designing a bracket for the new S-Series cement trucks that will be implemented in production.”
His experience in the STEM field has allowed him to be fully equipped for innovation at Oshkosh Corporation.
“My experience in programming the robot to do autonomous tasks has helped me with writing python scripts and programming displays and screens that are used on certain vehicles today,” he said. “Also, wiring and soldering the robot has helped me with creating wiring harnesses used to power full-scaled vehicles on ambulances and other trucks.”
Planning to attend the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Bal will major in computer science and minor in math, with hopes to obtain a master’s degree in software engineering.
“During college, I'll have the opportunity to be invited back as an intern to the program and start solidifying my future,” he said. “The contacts and connections I’ve made at Oshkosh will undoubtedly help me get a job and help me be successful later on in my life.”
By investing in multiple extracurricular activities during his high school career, Bal has not only created lasting friendships with his teammates and educational opportunities but used his skills in the workforce to better the world around him.
“Eric can always put a smile on your face and he strives to bring joy to others around him,” Wayne said. “His friendly, outgoing persona will bring him success in the future.”
By Abby Eaton
Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue VII
April 30th, 2021