Aerospace Valley Regional – 2024

Aerospace Valley Regional – 2024

by | Apr 10, 2024 | aerospace valley, Blog

Congratulations to the 40 teams PLUS all the mentors, volunteers, sponsors, friends and family members from California, Arizona, Türkiye and Chinese Taipei who participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition Aerospace Valley Regional from April 3-6, 2024.

We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional.

We hope you too had a memorable experience! 

View Photo Gallery

AWARDS

FIRST Impact Award

The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

  • Team 2429, La Cañada Engineering Club from La Cañada, CA

Creating an effective pipeline is a key element of sustainability throughout FIRST. This team has found effective partnerships to not only extend but enhance the STEM experience of both participants and spectators. Combining and stacking events creates a strong foundation, taking advantage of every opportunity to share STEM folks with FIRST and FIRST folks with STEAM. The blocks just fall into place.

      Engineering Inspiration

      The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

       

      This team showed measurable year-over-year growth in outreach. Like a bird of prey, they saw all options to engage. Their multi-level training helped attendees soar to new heights!

      Regional Winners

      • Team 294, Beach Cities Robots from Redondo Beach, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
      • Team 2659,  RoboWarriors from Mission Hills, CA  (Championship Qualifying Award)
      • Team 4322, Clockwork from Orange, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

      Dean’s List Finalist

      In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

      • Samantha K – Team 6305, Stable Circuits
      • Lucian M – Team 2073, EagleForce

      Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

      FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

      In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

      Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

      • Kiet Chau – Team 1538, The Holy Cows

      Volunteer of the Year

      The Volunteer of the Year Award celebrates the dedication and service of truly outstanding volunteers. The phenomenal success of the FIRST Robotics Competition is a reflection of the commitment and enthusiasm displayed by our volunteers. We are truly humbled by the passion and commitment of our volunteers.

      • Kriss Vanderhyde

      Additional Awards

      Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Aerospace Valley Regional! See the list here.

      East Bay Regional – 2024

      East Bay Regional – 2024

      by | Apr 10, 2024 | Blog

      The East Bay FIRST Robotics Competition unfolded as the season’s largest Regiional in California, drawing an impressive roster of 60 teams from California and corners of the globe including Australia, India, Turkey, and the United States. 

      Hosted by Berkeley High School, the event debuted in a new venue that earned high praise for its hospitality. Adding a unique twist to the competition, armchair analysis provided by local alumni including Aiden Ferrer, Andrew Lawrence, and Ed Jordan, offered insightful breakdowns of previous matches, interviews with teams, and match previews – all a bit hit with the audience!

      The event was packed with chances to learn and make connections, shown by how many people showed up for the mentor lunch. Led by Lonny Weissman, our FIRST Senior Mentor, the session fostered meaningful discussions and question exchanges among mentors, enhancing the community’s knowledge and cohesiveness. 

      Among the event’s other standout moments was the Women in STEM gathering, which captivated over 150 attendees with an inspiring talk from Rachel Lim, a distinguished alum of Team 649.

      Innovative technology and philanthropy intersected at the event, with Johnson & Johnson showcasing their cutting-edge Monarch Surgical robotics system through hands-on demonstrations. The presence of UCSF Organ Donation and Vitalant underscored the competition’s commitment to our community, with initiatives like a virtual blood drive memorializing lost FIRST members. 

      Additionally, PG&E’s involvement highlighted the bridge between education and career opportunities, offering swag and discussions on future paths for FIRST students. The East Bay FIRST Robotics Competition not only celebrated the spirit of innovation and teamwork but also fostered a deep sense of community and purpose.

      We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional.

      We hope you too had a memorable experience! 

      AWARDS

      FIRST Impact Award

      The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

      The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

      • Team 2637, Phantom Catz from Rolling Hills Estates, CA

      This team is on a quest to defeat STEAM barriers for all. Starting in their home town, they quickly leveled up to champion diversity and inclusion in STEAM at every school within their district. Setting their sights on the next level, they partnered with other underserved communities outside of their home state. They donated FIRST Lego League kits and followed up with many remote mentoring sessions. They raised the funds necessary for those teams to travel to meet with their mentors in person and to compete, some even winning awards! Keeping the FIRST energy going year round, they’ve started and co-hosted a new off-season FRC event for their region. Not letting a lack of FIRST in other countries get in their way, they’ve used FLL as a platform to make STEAM not just accessible, but a universal language for all. You can’t stop these phantomz from leveling up the world!

          Engineering Inspiration

          The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

          • Team 5985, Project Bucephalus from Wollongong, Australia

          This team left the judges speechless. The scope and scale of their inspiration is unstoppable. They have started hundreds of teams, taught STEM classes to thousands of students, and reached tens of thousands of people. Galloping through barriers, this team is inspiring everyone regardless of who you are or where you are from.

          Regional Winners

          • Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs from San Jose, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
          • Team 1678, Citrus Circuits from Davis, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
          • Team 1160, Titanium Robotics from San Marino, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

          Regional Finalists

          • Team 5940, BREAD
          • Team 581, Blazing Bulldogs
          • Team 1458, Red Tie Robotics  (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

          Rookie All-Star

          • Team 9545, Caracal Robotics from Istanbul, Turkiye (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

          This team has proven their reach is far, spanning hundreds of miles. They support economically struggling communities in their country. These cats are not rare or endangered!

          Dean’s List Finalist

          In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

          • Caroline S – Team 5419, Berkelium
          • Goksu K – Team 8159, Golden Horn

          Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

          FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

          In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

          Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

          • Joseph Alvarico – Team 7137, Project 212

          Additional Awards

          Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the East Bay Regional! See the list here.

          Monterey Bay Regional – 2024

          Monterey Bay Regional – 2024

          by | Apr 10, 2024 | Blog, Monterey Bay

          Congratulations to the 36 teams PLUS all the mentors, volunteers, sponsors, friends and family members from California and India who participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition Monterey Bay Regional from March 27-30, 2024.

          This year, the event was lucky to have by Collin Fultz, the director of FRC, in attendance! Another highlight of the event was the Women in STEM gathering, generously sponsored by Apple, featuring over 100 enthusiastic participants. This gathering was made even more memorable with delicious ice cream from Revival, a locally and woman-owned business, and an empowering talk by Kate Bergeron, Apple’s Vice President of Hardware.

          In addition to the competition, the event fostered mentorship and networking through a well-received mentor networking lunch attended by 50 mentors. Discussions and exchanges at this lunch underscored the vibrant community spirit inherent to FIRST events. The mentor lounge, declared the best of the season, offered a relaxing environment with coffee, tea, and comfortable seating, further enhancing the experience for mentors. 

          The competition itself was a showcase of ingenuity and teamwork. PG&E’s participation, offering information on internships and opportunities, highlighted the event’s role in bridging the gap between education and industry, ensuring that the spirit of innovation continues beyond the competition.

          We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional.

          We hope you too had a memorable experience! 

          AWARDS

          FIRST Impact Award

          The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

          The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

          Like many teams, this team ORGANIZED and DELIVERED SIGNIFICANT outreach to elementary and middle school students. Their reach for FLL teams increased 400-plus percent with 1000 team hours. They taught middle schoolers about STEM, INSPIRING them. Beyond this, this middle-sized team saw a need BEYOND THEIR AREA. Beyond California, beyond the United States, to another country. Helping young people learn English gave those needy young people access to learning STEM in rural areas, supporting a new FRC team there, and more! Their efforts INSPIRED us with its IMPACT. At another level, the members of this team saw the need for government funding and recognition of STEM education. As part of Students Association for STEM Advocacy, three years ago, then as the catalyst and co-founder of California Association for STEM Advocacy, with ANNUAL CONFERENCES and many visits to elected officials, even writing legislation for STEM funding, this team believes “ADVOCACY DOESN’T WORK WITHOUT COMMUNITY”.. Through SCHOOLS OF FISH, this team makes RIPPLES of IMPACT turn into WAVES of CHANGE.

              Engineering Inspiration

              The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

               

              When you are FORGED IN FIRE your impact is long lasting. No matter the age, no matter the audience, this team promotes STEM and FIRST to all. With a Mo-dest do-meaner (modest demeanor) this team has been recognized by leaders of their community both big and small for their passionate advocacy and actions. Constantly on the go with community engagement this team is SUPER SCO-NIC.

              Regional Winners

              • Team 1323, Madtown Robotics from Madera, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
              • Team 604, Quixilver from San Jose, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
              • Team 2035, Rockin’ Bots from Carmel, CA(Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

              Regional Finalist

              • Team 971, Spartan Robotics from Mountain View, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

              Dean’s List Finalist

              In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

              • Lilja K – Team 115, MVRT
              • Isa B – 9006, Cresent Wing Robotics

              Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

              FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

              In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

              Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

              •  Eugene Fang – Team 604, Quixilver

              Additional Awards

              Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Monterey Bay Regional! See the list here.

              Central Valley Regional – 2024

              Central Valley Regional – 2024

              by | Apr 10, 2024 | Blog, Central Valley

              Congratulations to the 40 teams PLUS all the mentors, volunteers, sponsors, friends and family members from California and Chinese Taipei who participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition Central Valley Regional from March 21-24, 2024.

              We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional.

              We hope you too had a memorable experience!

              Photo Gallery

              AWARDS

              FIRST Impact Award

              The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

              The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

              • Team 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains from Clovis, CA

              Deeply embedded in community and fostering trust throughout, their well-known brand is recognized at home and worldwide. Pre-K to launch, classroom to market they leave a trail for others to follow. In a flock of spectacularly high fliers, these young brains reach for the stars and soar beyond.

                  Engineering Inspiration

                  The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                  • Team 840, Aragon Robotics Team from San Mateo, CA

                  This team stands out for their embrace of all. Empowering kids young and bold, with every circuit and story told. With the breadth of their programs and drive to include, we’re inspired to present this award to you.

                  Regional Winners

                  • Team 1323, MadTown Robotics from Madera, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                  • Team 5940, BREAD from Redwood City, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                  • Team 7589, Lishan Blue Magpie from Chinese Taipei (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                  Rookie All-Star

                  • Team 9400, BagelBytes from Santa Clara, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                  For embracing FIRST, it found its call. A shining star, inspiring one and all! Its design, ambitious, a sight to behold! Innovation flourished, its story told. In Bytes and Bagels, its victory clear! So let us hail this Rookie All-Star this year!

                  Dean’s List Finalist

                  In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                  • Aaron L – Team 6947, Savage Tumaz
                  • Anish K – Team 6059, Systems Overload Robotics

                  Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                  FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                  In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                  Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                  •  Colin Warnes – Team 5817, Uni-Rex

                  Additional Awards 

                  Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Central Valley Regional! See the list here.

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                  Sacramento Regional – 2024

                  Sacramento Regional – 2024

                  by | Apr 10, 2024 | Blog, sacramento

                  Congratulations to the 38 teams PLUS all the mentors, volunteers, sponsors, friends, and family members from all over California, Hawaii, Chinese Taipei, and China who participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition Sacramento Regional from March 13-16, 2024.

                  We were honored to have guest speakers from California GovOps, the Department of Technology, Elk Grove Unified School District Board, and our generous sponsor PG&E, who brought invaluable insights and support to the event. Additionally, we were delighted to have the Sacramento Bee out to help highlight the incredible talent and hard work of all involved.  You are find the coverage here.

                  We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors, and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional. Your dedication and support are what make this event so impactful.

                  We hope you too had a memorable experience and are inspired by the creativity and innovation demonstrated by all the teams. Thank you for making the Sacramento Regional a resounding success!

                  Photo Gallery

                  AWARDS

                  FIRST Impact Award

                  The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

                  The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                    Engineering Inspiration

                    The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                    •  Team 4159, CardinalBotics from San Francisco, CA

                    Regional Winners

                    • Team 604, Quixilver from San Jose, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                    • Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs from San Jose, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                    • Team 4135, Iron Patriots from Modesto, CA

                    Dean’s List Finalist

                    In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                    •  Jason M – Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs
                    • Angel F – Team 8048, HH East Palo Alto Churrobots

                    Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                    FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                    In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                    Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                    •  Bryan Cooley – Team 4159, CardinalBotics

                    Additional Awards

                    Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Sacramento Regional! See the list here.

                     

                    San Diego Regional, presented by Qualcomm – 2024

                    San Diego Regional, presented by Qualcomm – 2024

                    by | Apr 10, 2024 | Blog, San Diego

                    The 18th Annual San Diego FIRST Robotics Competition presented by Qualcomm from March 21-24, 2024 once again proved to be a show stopper! This year’s competition welcomed 51 teams and over 1,500 students from high schools in San Diego, other California cities, Hawaii and Azerbaijan.

                    We were particularly fortunate to have FIRST CEO, Chris Moore, attend our event, offering an extraordinary chance for students, mentors, and alumni to engage directly with a pivotal leader in STEM education. 

                    Opening ceremonies on Saturday were highlighted by words from Qualcomm’s SVP & CIO, Cisco Sanchez who unveiled the $10,000 Qualcomm Innovation Grant, which was ultimately awarded to Rookie Team 9452, LHS Steel Stingers.

                    We also had the honor of presenting four distinguished proclamations, marking March 23, 2024, as a day of celebration across both the state and county for STEAM and STEM achievements. These proclamations recognized California STEAM Robotics Day, California Women in STEM Day, County of San Diego STEAM Robotics Day, and County of San Diego Women in STEM Day, highlighting the collective dedication to advancing STEM education and acknowledging the hard work of students and professionals in these fields. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to California Assemblymembers Brian Maienschein and Akilah Weber, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, and the SASA of California for their help in securing these honors.

                    In addition to the excitement of the competition, we also hosted additional engagement events:

                    • Mentor Breakfast – mentor networking and a meet and greet with FIRST CEO, Chris Moore.
                    • Women in STEM “Table Talks” – networking opportunities with STEM professionals from organizations like Qualcomm, General Atomics, Becton Dickinson, NIWC-Pacific, TYLin and the Society of Women Engineers. 
                    • Alumni Event – alumni and FIRST seniors had a chance to network with and hear from Chris Moore, a Talent Representative from Qualcomm and NIWC-Pacific employee and FIRST Alumni.
                    • Elementary School Field Trips – on Friday, in coordination with Team Nomad, 135 elementary school students took a field trip to the Regional to watch matches and go on a scavenger hunt through the pits.

                    New this year, we also honored our FIRST For All fellowship graduates and our Very Involved Person nominees.

                    We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all competing teams for their relentless effort and commendable achievements throughout the event. We are immensely proud of you.

                    Our deepest gratitude goes to the volunteers, mentors, and sponsors whose contributions were pivotal to the competition’s success. Your ongoing support and commitment are deeply valued. 

                    Gallery 1: Tom Lafleur
                    Gallery 2: Greg Quirin

                    AWARDS

                    FIRST Impact Award

                    The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

                    The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                      Engineering Inspiration

                      The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                       Team 2485, W.A.R Lords from San Diego, CA

                        Regional Winners

                        • Team 359, Hawaiian Kids from Waialua, HI (Championship Qualifying Award)
                        • Team 3647, Millennium Falcons from San Diego, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                        • Team 8891, Wild Raccoons from Oceanside, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                        Dean’s List Finalists

                        In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                         

                        • Noah S – Team 3749, Team Optix
                        • Julia S – Team 3341, Option 16

                        Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                          FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                          In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie who believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                          Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                           

                          •  David Okana – Team 2543, TitanBot

                             

                            Rookie All-Star Award

                            The Rookie All-Star Award celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology.

                            • Team 9452, LHS Steel Stingers from San Diego, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                             

                            Volunteer of the Year

                            The Rookie All-Star Award celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology.

                            • Chris Low

                            Additional Awards

                            Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the San Diego Regional! See the list here.

                             

                            Orange County Regional – 2024

                            Orange County Regional – 2024

                            by | Apr 9, 2024 | Blog, Orange County

                            This year’s Orange County Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, held at the OC Fair & Event Center, was a great success! With 48 teams participating, the weekend went smoothly, despite a messy, rainy final day of competition.

                            Marie Castelo, of longtime regional sponsor Parker Aerospace, kicked off the first day of competition with an inspiring welcome during Opening Ceremonies. That evening, the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award was presented to Jacob Poole, mentor for team 589, and the Volunteer of the Year was presented to longtime volunteers and members of the Regional Planning Committee, Marge Brannon and Kris Ponmalai.

                            On the final day, new regional sponsor Altair’s Keshav Sundareth welcomed everyone, sharing ideas about how teams can make use of Altair’s software, as well as some well-received “dad jokes!”

                            The playoffs were highly competitive, with well-matched alliances delivering thrilling matches, and a very excited team 8033 Highlander Robotrics received the FIRST Impact Award, making for an exciting end to a great Orange County Regional!

                             

                            AWARDS

                            FIRST Impact Award

                            The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

                            The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                            • Team 8033, Highlander Robotics from Piedmont, CA

                            Tackling community challenges head-on with innovative STEM solutions, this team rallies together from far and wide. They identified community needs-designing, soldering, and changing lives. Using their coding chops to support the FIRST community, they should feel proud to carry the banner of their purple lion mascot.

                              Engineering Inspiration

                              The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                               

                              This team runs STEM-focused summer programs, hosts FLL tournaments, showcases a high excellence in engineering design, and has established strong connections within its local community and sponsor network. Their presence was felt every corner at this event, helping whoever they could. This ORANGE team has truly cracked the CODE to fulfilling FIRST’s mission.

                              Regional Winners

                              • Team 7153, μBotics from Brea, CA  (Championship Qualifying Award)
                              • Team 3476, Code Orange from Irvine, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                              • Team 5285, Sea Kings Robotics from Palos Verde Estates, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                              Dean’s List Finalist

                              In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                              • Ciel D – Team 5924, Golden Gate Robotics
                              • Vaughn K – Team 8033, Highlander Robotics

                              Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                              FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                              In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                              Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                              •  Jacob Poole – Team 589, Falkon Robotics

                              Additional Awards

                              Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Orange County Regional! See the list here. 

                               

                              Los Angeles Regional – 2024

                              Los Angeles Regional – 2024

                              by | Apr 9, 2024 | Blog, Los Angeles

                              This year’s Los Angeles Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, held at Da Vinci High School in El Segundo, was a great success! The event was at full capacity with 44 teams participating.

                              On Friday, team 4201 Vitruvian Bots held a panel on Careers in STEAM, sponsored by LA Regional sponsor RTX. Students and mentors gathered to hear from panelists discussing some of the challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced as students and professionals in STEAM. All the panelists were FIRST alumni and/or mentors, and work for RTX, so students had an opportunity to glimpse a possible path for their futures.

                              Friday night, the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award was presented to team 597 Wolverines mentor Kevyn Arcudia. The Volunteer of the Year was presented to Kenneth Wah.

                              Saturday morning after Opening Ceremonies, all mentors were invited up to the volunteer room in the skybox to enjoy coffee and pastries – and a little gratitude from the Regional Planning Committee.

                              After an exciting playoffs, Team 368 Kika Mana, along with alliance partners rookie Team 9408 Warbots and Team 980 ThunderBots were the winning alliance. Team 687 The Nerd Herd won Engineering Inspiration, and 3473 Team Sprocket won Impact Award. Team Sprocket lead the charge giving away more than 500 3D printers this season, including to many teams participating in the LA Regional.

                              Help from multiple local teams with setup, breakdown and everything in between made it possible for FIRST to hold another successful Los Angeles Regional!

                               

                              Photo Gallery 1 - Matt Beard Photography
                              Photo Gallery 2 - Lily Chan Photograpy

                              AWARDS

                              FIRST Impact Award

                              The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

                              The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                              • Team 3473, Team Sprocket from Diamond Bar, CA

                                Engineering Inspiration

                                The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                                • Team 687, The Nerd Herd from Carson, CA

                                Regional Winners

                                • Team 368, Team Kika Mana from Honolulu, HI (Championship Qualifying Award)

                                • Team 9408, Warbots from Downey, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                                • Team 980, Thunderbots from Burbank, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                                 

                                Dean’s List Finalist

                                In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                                • Natalie B – Team 1452, Omnicats
                                • Deetya S – Team 2637, Phantom Cats

                                Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                                FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                                In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                                Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                                •  Kevyn Arcudia from Team 587, The Wolverines

                                 

                                Additional Awards

                                Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Los Angeles Regional! See the list here. https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2024/CALA/awards

                                 

                                San Francisco Regional – 2024

                                San Francisco Regional – 2024

                                by | Apr 6, 2024 | Blog, San Francisco

                                The San Francisco FIRST Robotics Competition Regional, held at St. Ignatius High School, was a fantastic event! The venue buzzed with excitement and welcomed VIPs including Patti and Eric Poppe from PG&E/DreamMaker Foundation, Matt Hayes, VP of Safety at PG&E, and Senator Scott Weiner. Their presence underscored the importance of community and corporate support in nurturing the next generation of engineers and scientists.

                                PG&E was very involved in the event with a screening of their “Unlock the Future” social impact film about FIRST Team Project 212, providing safety glasses and discussing internship opportunities at their booth. 

                                At the mentor luncheon, Eric Schoenman of PG&E shared mentorship insights and at the Women in STEM event, Norma Grubb, PG&E Director of Data Science, provided a dynamic forum for encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM fields.

                                We’d like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all the sponsors, mentors and volunteers who contributed to this very successful Regional.

                                Photo Gallery - Bowerbird Photography
                                Award Photos

                                AWARDS

                                 

                                FIRST Impact Award

                                The FIRST Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.   

                                The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient team will be invited to a FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against winners from other qualifying events.

                                • Team 1700, Gatorbotics from Palo Alto, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                                This team creates an expanding curriculum for youth STEM education, spearheads engineering programs at their school, and bridges communities across the peninsula and the world. With a robust commitment to supporting Women in STEM, they leverage their position in their community to ensure strong fundamentals in their pond. This team gears up local underserved communities making truly accessible programs for all. Leaving their shallow waters, they’re spreading their STEM curriculum across oceans to help alleviate poverty and empower women. These green chompers are unstoppable.

                                  Engineering Inspiration

                                  The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                                  • Team 2854, The Prototypes from San Jose, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                                  This team stood out for their ability to measure the results of their outreach programs. In addition to mentoring or assisting over 40 FIRST teams, they targeted female representation through SWE Next and girls clubs. As a result their team went from just 2 girls to over 20 in a year. This team really puts their ideas to the test.

                                  Regional Winners

                                  • Team 114, Eaglestrike from Los Altos, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                                  • Team 5940, BREAD from Redwood City, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                                  • Team 5507, Robotic Eagles from San Francisco, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                                   

                                  Dean’s List Finalist

                                  In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                                  • Sophia D from Team 6962, Antares
                                  • Mikayla M from Team 4186, Alameda Aztechs

                                  Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

                                  FIRST stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                                  In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                                  Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                                  • Alexis Tuason from Team 6418, The Missfits

                                  Additional Awards

                                  Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the San Francisco Regional! See the list here.

                                   

                                  Ventura County Regional – 2024

                                  Ventura County Regional – 2024

                                  by | Apr 6, 2024 | Blog, Ventura

                                  Kudos to the 48 teams, along with their mentors, volunteers, sponsors, friends, and family members from across California, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Hawaii, Singapore, The Netherlands and China for their outstanding participation in the Ventura County Regional of the FIRST Robotics Competition, held from March 7-10, 2024.

                                  A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all the sponsors, mentors, and volunteers who played a crucial role in making this Regional a tremendous success.

                                  We trust that your time at the Ventura County Regional was truly unforgettable!

                                  View Photo Gallery

                                  LIST OF TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!!!

                                  The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the Ventura County Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 17-20, 2024.

                                  FIRST Impact Award

                                  The FIRST Impact Award represents the true spirit of FIRST.  It honors the team that best serves as a model for other teams to emulate and that embodies the goals of FIRST.  It remains FIRST’s most prestigious team award.  The FIRST Impact Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, school, and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season or school year. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient will be invited to the FIRST Championship where it will compete for the FIRST Impact Award against the winners from all the other qualifying events.

                                  • Team 8, Paly Robotics from Palo Alto, CA

                                  This team exhibits steam with creative strategies and art in the mind’s eye. Persistence and passion for others ensures this team’s impact story is a page-turner. Close your eyes and imagine mapping the environment to ability and beyond!

                                    Engineering Inspiration

                                    The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.  This team will advance to the Championships and receive a $5000 NASA grant toward registration.

                                    • Team 589, Falcon Robotics from La Crescenta, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)

                                    These birds of prey SOARED to success to include everyone playing a part. This team migrated from a tank drive to a swerve drive this year. Their successful Engineering Expo was inspirational and brought communities together.

                                    Regional Winners

                                    • Team 4414, High Tide from Ventura, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
                                    • Team 4481, Rembrandts from the Netherlands (Championship Qualifying Award)
                                    • Team 4276, Surf City Vikings from Huntington Beach, CA (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)
                                    • Team 3863, Pantherbotics from Newbury Park, CA

                                    Rookie All Star

                                    • Team 9421, Carmel Robotics from Hong Kong, China (Championship Qualifying Award – wildcard)

                                    Dean’s List Finalist

                                    In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors an award for selected top students known as the FIRST Dean’s List. This award celebrates a student’s outstanding leadership and effectiveness in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists will compete at the championship for the FIRST Dean’s List.

                                    • Ethan L with Team 589, Falcon Robotics
                                    • Daniela S with Team 687, The Nerd Herd

                                    Woodie Flowers Finalist Award


                                    FIRST                                     stands apart from other competitions in STEM and sports due to the FIRST Ethos of Gracious Professionalism, the concept of Coopertition, and the commitment to the FIRST Core Values. The guiding force behind these principles was Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. William Murphy, Jr., who was instrumental in creating the concept of FIRST with Dean Kamen, recognized the unique perspective, wisdom, and communication style that Woodie brought to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

                                    In honor of Woodie, Dr. Murphy founded the Woodie Flowers Award in 1996. He recognized that the FIRST ethos would be carried forward by our FIRST mentors and sought to celebrate those mentors who demonstrate the leadership, ethical behavior, and communication skills exemplified by Woodie. Woodie believed “societies get the best of what they celebrate”.

                                    Being recognized by students, through nomination essays, makes this honor very meaningful to mentors. It is truly an honor for a mentor to be nominated for this award.

                                    • Paul Booth from Team 4817, One Degree North

                                    Volunteer of the Year

                                     The Volunteer of the Year Award celebrates the dedication and service of truly outstanding volunteers. The phenomenal success of the FIRST Robotics Competition is a reflection of the commitment and enthusiasm displayed by our volunteers. We are truly humbled by the passion and commitment of our volunteers.

                                    • Ken Foulks

                                    Additional Awards

                                    Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Ventura County Regional! See the list here.

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