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!
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.