Greenhill Hosted its FIRST Robotics Competition Nov. 11, 2017. It was a fun day of learning and growing for all involved.
Greenhill senior science teacher Maria Suarez worked with Regional director Patrick and the Judge Advisor Freid planned and hosted this event. There were 6 Judges among which I am a Rookie (new). (Richard from Plano independent league, Jeff Greenhill Science teacher, Stacy the Plano West Science teacher and robotics club host and three other Greenhill parents ; Two dozens or so volunteers including referees, wifi director, score recorders, robot inspectors…). There were 14 Robotics teams.
I enjoyed the day thoroughly, learnt great deal about FRC and was inspired in multiple ways.
1) FIRST FRC is for high school student. The focus is to inspire student to be a future STEM leaders with well-rounded skills including Thinking, Connecting, Innovation, Designing and Motivation. Teams exhibiting all these aspects throughout their competition period would be awarded with The Inspirations of the competition, together with the game finalist. As obviously represented by the above categories, FRC redefines “winning” by rewarding teams for demonstrated design thinking, systematic engineering progression, team collaboration, community outreach, Gracious Professionalism, the abilities to overcome obstacles.
2) There are three robot competency including autonomous, controlled drive and reach/range. Each robots would be scored based on their performances in the field. The field layout is different every year.
3) The FRC is all put together by the passionate volunteers from all walks of live including parents, teachers, educational practitioners etc.. Many are returning volunteers for years. They found the meaning in spending their personal time helping to build the future STEM leaders. I personally found the enormous joy being part of the event last Sat..
It was an awesome uplifting feeling watching the students continuously perfecting their robots during the wait periods, intensely working with their robots competing in the field with Gracious Professionalism, anxiously waiting in high anticipation at the award ceremony and finally receiving the awards on stage. Many who were part of the day went home with fulfilled and gratifying feeling as I do, I know Bill did.
Thanks to Greenhill for hosting this meaningful event, thanks to the many volunteers for sharing your precious personal time promoting STEM through FRC, and thanks to the students being the inspirational players and the highlights of the day.