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!
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
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Team 368, Team Kika Mana from Honolulu, HI (Championship Qualifying Award)
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Team 9408, Warbots from Downey, CA (Championship Qualifying Award)
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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