The West Windsor-Plainsboro FIRST Robotics High School Team FRC 1923, the MidKnight Inventors, was the winner of the recent Brunswick Eruption. The frisbee-throwing and pyramid-climbing robot won the championship together with alliance partners FRC 375 High Voltage from Brooklyn, and FRC 375 Robotic Plague from Staten Island. Forty high school teams from seven states participated in the competition.
The MidKnight Inventors is a team of students from High School North and High School South. The mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills; inspire innovation; and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
In addition to building competitive robots, the students are committed to expanding interest in science, technology, engineering, and math throughout the school district and the communities. Coaches include Kelsey Stevens and Libby Kamen and the mentor is Michael Stevens.
“Working with these extremely bright students and dedicated mentors is one of the most rewarding experiences that I have ever had,” says Kathy Rogers, the advisor of the group. “It is truly inspiring to all of the mentors to see the students having so much fun while they gain ‘hands on’ experience in science and technology. The FIRST program allows them to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real situations.”
E-mail advisor@FIRSTRobotics1923.org or visit www.FIRSTRobotics1923.org for more information.
Pictured: Front row, from left, Sahil Shah and Neil Shah. Second row: Coach Kelsey Stevens, left, Aryak Pande, Bhavish Yalamanchi, Sharath Yalla, Shidant Sharma, Abdullah Hyder, and coach Libby Kamen. Third row Erica Anderson, left, Asha Agrawal, Anjali Agrawal, advisor Kathy Rogers, Manan Vajarya, Nikita Shankar, Fariha Tamboli, and Sarah Slemmon. And fourth row, Anthony Manansala, left, Ola Olorode, Keandre Castro, Steven Hitchcock, Arvind Vasudevan, Rohan Chatterjee, mentor Michael Stevens, Michael Foley, Olu Olorode, Nabeel Peshimam, Lucas Mihlbachler, Joey Byrnes, Aditya Madduluri, and Nithin Ragavan.
