Last week, our FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology) robotics team #2375, The Dragons, participated in the
Arizona Regional at Hamilton High School. Fortunately, we were able
for the first time to take a vast majority of Bioscience students
(200+) to the competition via chartered school buses to cheer us on.
And we rocked the place!
Although we placed 26th place of 50 teams, we left the competition
with many awards and accolades. Most prestigiously, our
teacher-mentor, Jessica Popham won the Woodie Flowers award for her
outstanding mentoring as nominated by her students.
And needless to say at its announcement, some of us were bawling due
to joy or just due to gut-wretching weariness of the competition. An
added twist was the award was presented by Rob Mainieri, a NATIONAL
recipient of the Woodie Flowers Award, who is also our mentor for the
past season, making it a more endearing moment.
Ms. Popham has definitely taken our team to the next level with our
involvement with FIRST Lego League (FLL) mentoring and a tournament,
mentoring another robotic team, applying for the Chairman’s Award, and
creating a culture of “gracious professionalism” here at Bioscience.
Additionally, our team did win the Gracious Professionalism award due
to taking another robotics team, the Bearded Dragons, under our Dragon
wings (aka the Dragon Alliance). This award wouldn’t be possible
without the generous help by Chris Miconi who spent most of his time
on Thursday to make sure that the Bearded Dragons had a working robot.
With that said, the Arizona Regional was competitive and we are ready
(sort of) for this craziness to begin once again on April 4th through
the 6th at the Las Vegas Regional.
Team 2375 – The Dragons
2012 – Gracious Professionalism Award
2012 – Woodie Flowers Award to Ms. Jessica Popham
2010 – Silver Medal Finalist
2008 – Judge’s Award
