The TCS Robotics Team, comprised of 14 students in grades seven through 12, had a great season! Led by our computer science teacher, Mr. Jim Carr, the team worked hard to design, build, and code their robot to compete in three competitions in this year’s FIRST Tech Challenge.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen to inspire youth to get involved in science and technology.
In the League Championship, the “Frozen Frenzy,” that was jointly hosted by TCS and Say Watt, the Tigers won the Finalist Alliance Trophy (second place) in the competition and won a Second Place Innovate Award! The top seven teams advanced to the NJ State competition. Timothy missed the cut by just one place, coming in eighth. However, this week we learned that one of the top seven teams will no longer be able to go and Timothy will now be going to participate in the State competition which will be held in north Jersey on March 6. Go Tigers!
We are so proud of the kids who worked hard all year and won the (second place) Innovate award because their robot was truly innovative with a rotating turret arm, horizontal intake spinner, and six-inch Omni-wheels mounted on a plexiglass chassis frame.
Congratulations to sophomore Michael Nelson who was selected as a FIRST Dean’s List Semi-Finalist winner. Michael was chosen for achieving personal technical expertise and leading the TCS team and community to increased awareness for FIRST and its mission. He will compete in the finals in March.
“When the official season is over, the team will continue to meet with a focus on training rather than competition, so we can position ourselves well for next year,” says Mr. Carr. We are excited about the great potential we have for the future!