In addition to an outstanding academic record at De La Salle, senior Joey Brannigan’s “driving” skills are the envy of other Robotics teams. 

The captain of the District Winning DLS Robotics team, the AutoPilots, Joey learned the coding language JAVA used to program - and drive - the robot. 

Mr. Rob Black, the faculty moderator of the AutoPilots, said,“He really did control the robot for the past two seasons and has gained a reputation among teams from other schools as one of the best.”

Joey is the third of four children and was homeschooled through eighth grade.

His ninth-grade year was at Dakota High School, and Joey said, “It was a huge adjustment. It was the year after COVID and a weird time. I actually met kids and had classes with others for the first time.”

He was on a travel baseball team coached by alumnus Keith Jablonski, ‘92. Joe’s teammate Luke Jablonski, already a freshman at DLS, encouraged Joey to spend a “shadow” day at De La Salle. That visit impressed Joey, and he transferred to DLS because “I loved the brotherly environment and the quality of education.” 

He says that the summer prior to his sophomore year, he met a lot of guys playing summer football, which helped ease the transition. 

As a sophomore and a junior, Joey played varsity football, although he decided to sit out senior year to focus on classes and Robotics. 

He will graduate magna cum laude and has taken a number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, including US History, American Government, Calculus AB, Chemistry, Computer Science Principles, English Language and Composition, Calculus BC, English Literature and Composition, and Physics 1. He has also taken several Engineering classes, including Introduction to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, and Engineering Design. 

Not surprisingly, Joey plans to pursue computer science studies because of his “love for coding, stemming from my time in Robotics.” 

Joey has been accepted at Michigan Tech, Michigan State, and Oakland University, but says he is likely to attend Michigan Tech as his father, an engineer at Ford Motor Co., went there. 

He advises freshmen to “join as many clubs as you can. Outreach is very important and you’ll never know who you might meet.”

His favorite memory of his time at De La Salle is “the two times we won the Macomb District event for Robotics.” 

Although the school year is winding down, Joey is working with younger students on the Robotics team to make sure they learn the coding language JAVA. He points to one of the outside coaches, the older brother of a past robotics team member, who has continued to mentor the team. 

Faculty member Mr. Joe Novak, DLS ‘03, said, “Joey has a brilliant mind and, without a doubt, is going to go on and do great things. More importantly, he is a very genuine and kind young man whom DLS will miss greatly next year.”

Joey lives with his parents Terrence and Karen Brannigan in Macomb Township, and the family attends St. Peter’s in Mt. Clemens.