St. Thomas More Robotics Wins FIRST Robotics Wisconsin Regional Chairman’s Award

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On Saturday, March 12th, the Thomas More Community Robotics Club, also known as MORE Robotics, was awarded the Chairman’s Award at the 6th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Wisconsin Regional Competition, held at the US Cellular Arena. The Chairman’s Award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate, and which embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST. It remains FIRST’s most prestigious award. This is the third time the team has won this award. It qualifies them to compete in the FIRST Robotics International Championship to be held in April at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. There, they will be competing against 400 teams from around the world. MORE Robotics also won the Autodesk Excellence in Design Award.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering, and technology. More than 51,875 high-school students on 2,075 teams from the U.S., Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Turkey, and the U.K. are participating in this year’s competition. The Wisconsin Regional is one of 49 regional competitions held around the world. FIRST Robotics was founded by Dean Kamen in 1992 with the vision "To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."

In this year’s competition entitled “Logo Motion,” robots are designed to pick up inflated tubes and hang them on a grid for points during a 2 minute and 15 second match. Additional points are awarded for deploying a second mini-robot that races to the top of a pole.

MORE Robotics is a community team made up of 26 high school students from nine schools. Adult mentors and teachers assist students in the design, building, and programming of 120 pound robot for competition. Student team members are encouraged to excel in the study of science and technology with the hope that they will become the next generation of engineers, technological leaders, and entrepreneurs that will help make our world a better place.

MORE Robotics is supported by local companies and universities. Major sponsors include Quad Tech, Hollow Steel, Ladish Co., Rockwell Automation, GE Volunteers, Autodesk, MSOE, American Acrylics USA, LLC, ABB, and Saint Thomas More High School. Additional information about MORE Robotics can be found by visiting their website: www.morerobotics.org.