One thing led to another for Kira Voichenko, a junior at Keystone Oaks High School.
Voichenko immigrated to Pittsburgh from Ukraine in March 2022, one month after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In the fall of that year, she started at Keystone Oaks Middle School as an eighth-grade student. Toward the end of the school year, she attended a meeting of the school robotics team.
She apparently showed an aptitude for the field. The teacher involved with the team encouraged her to sign up for robotics and engineering classes when she moved to ninth grade at the high school, Vioichenko remembered.
Heeding that advice, Voichenko completed a computer-aided drafting and design course her freshman year at Keystone Oaks High School.
Last year, she began Catalyst Connection’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician Pre-Apprenticeship Program, earning nationally recognized credentials.
And this month, Viochenko, 17, of Castle Shannon, won the state Department of Labor and Industry’s pre-apprentice achievement award, an achievement given to a high school student who has completed a registered pre-apprenticeship program and demonstrated dedication, talent and potential for future success in a career.
“Any free second during the school day or outside of school, she’s in the robotics room, building,” said Andy Bochicchio, gifted support teacher at Keystone Oaks. “She earns it. Everything she’s accomplished is incredible.”
The Catalyst Connection program uses curriculum from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council. Viochenko completes the lessons outside of school. There are four modules, ranging from safety, quality, manufacturing processes and production and maintenance. Each one takes about 45 hours to complete.
Bochicchio nominated Viochenko for the state award. She’s adapted very well socially among her peers, and has adjusted to American life naturally, he said.
“For her to excel head and shoulders above some of the other students in the program, she deserves it. It’s well earned.”
Viochenko said the adjustment from Ukraine to Pittsburgh wasn’t too difficult for her, which she attributes to a “very supportive environment” at school.
With Voichenko’s help, the high school robotics team recently competed in the state championship and earned an award for their engineering design process; and the Science Club earned second place in the Western PA Science Bowl, a competition where students answer questions about biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, energy and math.
“I love robotics and the whole idea of building something new,” Viochenko said.
Viochenko is also a member of the varsity swim team, the musical and the student-run business, Golden Oaks Designs.
Outside of school, Viochenko has attended a summer math camp for girls at the University of Pittsburgh and completed hands-on robotics training at the Community College of Allegheny County.
Upon graduation from Keystone Oaks, Viochenko plans to pursue engineering and is interested in applying robotics and technology within the biomedical fields.
“You couldn’t have timed it any better,” Bochicchio said, referencing the advent of major investments in robotics and biomedical engineering in the city.
The University of Pittsburgh plans to open BioForge, a $250 million facility supporting cell and gene therapy research, next year at the Hazelwood Green complex in Pittsburgh. Also at Hazelwood Green, Carnegie Mellon University opened its $100 million robotics innovation center in February.
Viochenko will be recognized at an awards ceremony in April at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit.