SC to host regional student robotics event

By Mike Switzer

Published June 5, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

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River Bluff High School math and robotics instructor Horst Daichendt (center) joined by Rep. Chris Wooten (left), along with students Robert Albetel (second from left), Dharm Patel (fourth from left), and Brady Miller (right).

Robotics has been a part of the business world for a long time but now with the acceleration of AI, it’s taking on more importance. Which is one reason our next guest says he and others are adamant about involving middle and high school students in this technology and why they are very excited about a significant robotics event coming to our state for the first time this December. Mike Switzer interviews Horst Daichendt, a math and robotics instructor at River Bluff High School in Lexington, SC. Resources: VEX Robotics competition

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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