Outreach Opportunity for Teams

Outreach Opportunity for Teams

Outreach Opportunity at the Aerospace Valley Air Show!

Edwards Air Force Base, FIRST California, and Aerospace Valley Robotics are sponsoring an opportunity for FIRST Robotics Teams to participate in the 2022 Aerospace Valley Air Show on October 14,15, &16th.

The Aerospace Valley Air Show is an entirely new event dedicated to showcasing the best of STEM and aviation.  It’s an Air Show, STEM Expo and Open House all in one!

The weekend consists of:

  • the Largest USAF STEM Expo In History with nearly 60 hands-on displays and activities
  • a large air show headlined by the USAF Thunderbirds Flight Demonstration Team
  • the first open house for the base in 13 years.

Participation Details:

  • Each team participating will be provided a 10×10 booth for the robot and outreach material.  Your team will have the opportunity to reach out to over 100,000 people.  Many business and potential sponsors will be in attendance during the 3-day event.  
  • You will be required to bring a robot and do demonstrations along with other teams at all levels FLL, FTC, and FRC.  Demonstrations will be held from 10am to 3pm daily.  We are asking for teams to be there all three days.

Basic Logistics:  

  • October 13:  The big items will have to be brought on base on Thursday October 13th.  There is NO ability to drive up to the hangar any other day. 
  • October 14,15,&16:  Teams will have to staff their booths and be ready to give demonstrations starting at 10AM.  
  • FTC field and LEGO tables will be available, but game elements will have to be provided.
  • FRC carpet and a wooden hub and hangar will be available for demonstrations.  Teams are asked to bring their own cargo.

There is no cost to register, participate or attend. 

We are hoping that the Southern California teams will step up and represent FIRST, their community, and their team!  For more information please contact FIRST Senior Mentor David Voracek.

California Teams Advocate for STEM in DC

California Teams Advocate for STEM in DC

Four California FIRST teams -Team Spyder 1622, MSET Fish 649, MSET Cuttlefish 6165, and Eagle Engineering 1138 – traveled to Washington, DC where they joined more robotics students from across the nation to advocate for increased federal STEM funding during the 9th annual National Advocacy Conference (NAC) June 26th – June 28th.

The conference, presented by the Student Association for STEM Advocacy, helps develop student advocates to expand access to STEM opportunities. SASA founder and president, Frank Ferrari, had this to say about the conference: “The impact these students have on shaping our future is real! The relationships the teams develop impacts how our elected officials vote on important STEM issues as we attempt to make STEM accessible to everyone!”

Students and Mentors were prepared for meetings with their Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill with:

  • a walk through of the basics of advocacy while focusing on how to build and leverage relationships with elected officials to advance STEM programs
  • hands-on and practical introduction on what skills are needed to be an effective advocate for STEM at the local, state, and federal levels.
  • education about ESSA and Title IV-A, and USICA
  • coaching and live role plays to help them talk to their Members of Congress
  • time to get together in advocacy groups, by state, to practice speaking to Senator’s and Congress representatives.

By the end of the conference, our California FIRST teams were ready to put their practice into action and had meetings with the following Senators and Representatives:

  • United States Senator Alex Padilla – California
  • United States Senator Dianne Feinstein – California
  • United States Representative Sara Jacobs, 53rd District – California
  • United States Representative Darrell Issa, 50th District – California
  • United States Representative Mike Levin, 49th District – California

During their meetings with these Congress Members and their staff, teams urged lawmakers to increase funding for grants used for STEM engagement activities, including raising funding for grants in Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to the authorized level of $1.6 billion and supporting the NSF grants in the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA).

Team Spyder member, Brendan Aeria said, “Participating in the National Advocacy Conference has made a huge impact on me, because it has taught me a lot that I would have never known about our government, and how I can be active and push for policies that I believe in, such as robotics funding. I gained a lot of confidence in my everyday conversations and especially with future public speaking by advocating to elected officials and their staff.

By the end of the conference, team members gained valuable real-life skills and saw first-hand how advocating as a group can create great impact.

Robotics California Advocacy Coalition begins.

On July 20, 2022, California robotics teams that attended the NAC 2022 gathered together via Zoom across the state to organize unified robotics and STEAM advocacy efforts with MSET Fish and Team Spyder leading the way with five founding members of this coalition, namely FRC 649, FRC/VEX 1138, FRC/FTC 1622, FRC 6165 & FTC 12675. 

They will be working with local and California government through policy legislation, to influence, and advocate to legislature in the state Senate and Assembly. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Robotics California Advocacy Coalition and upcoming events, indicate your interest via their sign up form.

California Teams at FIRST Championship in Houston – 2022

California Teams at FIRST Championship in Houston – 2022

We are so proud of all 64 FIRST teams from California who brought their “A” game to compete, collaborate, have fun and make memories along with nearly 800 other student robotics teams from 43 countries around the globe!  

FIRST Championship, the world’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for students, celebrated the conclusion of the 2021-2022 robotics season, FIRST FORWARD presented by Qualcomm, with 30,000 students, mentors/coaches, volunteers, sponsors, media, and supporters.

Congratulations to the following California teams, students and volunteers who are bringing home a huge amount of impressive awards.

CALIFORNIA AWARDS AT CHAMPIONSHIP

On Winning Alliance

Team 254
The Cheesy Poofs

On Finalist Alliance

Team 4414
HighTide

Dean's List Winner

Joyce Yang
Team 1967
The Janksters

DIVISIONS:

  • On the Winning Alliances: Team 604, Quixilver (Carver), Team 1323, MadTown Robotics (Carver), Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs (Galileo), Team 1678, Citrus Circuits (Hopper), Team 973, Greybots (Newton), Team 5940, BREAD (Roebling). Team 4414, HighTide (Turing)
  • On the Finalists Alliances: Team 1138, Eagle Engineering (Carver), Team 3476, Code Orange  (Galileo), Team 846, The Funky Monkeys  (Galileo), Team 971, Spartan Robotics (Turing)
  • Innovation in Control Award – Team 846, The Funky Monkeys  (Galileo)
  • Imagery Award – Team 3476, Code Orange  (Galileo)
  • Gracious Professionalism Award – Team 3128, Aluminum Narwhals (Hopper)
  • Autonomous Award – Team 1678, Citrus Circuits (Hopper)
  • Highest Rookie Seed – Team 8840, Bay Robotics (Roebling)
  • Entrepreneurship Award – Team 5940, BREAD (Roebling)
  • Team Spirit Award – Team 115, MVRT (Roebling)
  • Industrial Design Award – Team 971, Spartan Robotics (Turing)
  • Quality Award – Team 4414, HighTide (Turing)

On Finalist Alliance

Team 11212
The Clueless

Motivate Award Winner

Team 16884
Mechanical Advantage

Inspire Award Finalists

Team 11212
The Clueless

Team 6165
MSET CuttleFish

Team 12525
Wolf Corp.

Motivate Award Finalist

Team 8404
Quixilver

Dean's List Winner

Rohan Bosworth
Team 16884
Mechanical Advantage

Design Award Winner

Team 12635
Kuriosity Robotics

Rising All-Star Award Winner

#PandaPower

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Many many thanks to all the mentors, volunteers, sponsors and parents who helped make this all possible! With extra special thanks to the 2022 FIRST Championship Presenting Sponsor Qualcomm who continues to fully embrace the FIRST community with open arms and great generosity.

Monterey Bay Regional – 2022

Monterey Bay Regional – 2022

Congratulations to the 36 Teams PLUS all the Mentors, Volunteers, Sponsors, Friends and Family members who participated in the Monterey Bay FIRST Robotics Regional Competition from March 23-26, 2022.

TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!

The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the Monterey Bay Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 20-23, 2022.

Regional Chairman’s

The Chairman’s Award represents the true spirit of FIRST.  It honors the team that best serves as a model for other teams to emulate and that embodies the goals of FIRST.  It remains FIRST’s most prestigious team award The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, school, and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season or school year. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient will be invited to the FIRST Championship where it will compete for the Chairman’s Award against the winners from all the other qualifying events.

  • Team 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains from Clovis, 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.

Regional Winners

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.

  • Alison Soong from Team 1868
  • Alden Sherrill from Team 7413

Woodie Flowers

  • Susan Cheng from Team 1868

Additional Awards

Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Monterey Bay Regional! See the list here.

Support

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 at the Monterey Bay Regional!

Silicon Valley Regional – 2022

Silicon Valley Regional – 2022

Congratulations to the 59 Teams PLUS all the Mentors, Volunteers, Sponsors, Friends and Family members who participated in the Silicon Valley FIRST Robotics Regional Competition from April 7-10, 2022.

TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!

The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the Silicon Valley Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 20-23, 2022.

Regional Chairman’s

The Chairman’s Award represents the true spirit of FIRST.  It honors the team that best serves as a model for other teams to emulate and that embodies the goals of FIRST.  It remains FIRST’s most prestigious team award The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, school, and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season or school year. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient will be invited to the FIRST Championship where it will compete for the Chairman’s Award against the winners from all the other qualifying events.

  • Team 4159, CardinalBotics from San Francisco, 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.

Regional Winners

  • Team 254, The Cheesy Poofs from San Jose, CA
  • Team 1678, Citrus Circuits from Davis, CA
  • Team 7419, QLS Tech Support from Dublin, CA (wildcard)

Regional Finalists

  • Team 971, Spartan Robotics from Mountain View, CA (wildcard)

Rookie All-Star

  • Team 8793, Pumpkin Bots from Half Moon Bay, CA (wildcard)

Dean’s List Finalists

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.

  • Alex Ware from Team 8033
  • Joyce Yang from Team 1967

Woodie Flowers Finalist

  • Dean Mulla from Team 1967

Additional Awards

Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Silicon Valley Regional! See the list here.

Support

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 at the Silicon Valley Regional!

Aerospace Valley Regional – 2022

Aerospace Valley Regional – 2022

Congratulations to the 36 Teams PLUS all the Mentors, Volunteers, Sponsors, Friends and Family members who participated in the Aerospace Valley FIRST Robotics Regional Competition from April 6-9, 2022.

TEAMS ADVANCING TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON!

The following teams and individuals earned top honors at the Aerospace Valley Regional and earned their way to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, April 20-23, 2022.

Regional Chairman’s

The Chairman’s Award represents the true spirit of FIRST.  It honors the team that best serves as a model for other teams to emulate and that embodies the goals of FIRST.  It remains FIRST’s most prestigious team award The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, school, and community over a sustained period, not just a single build season or school year. The winner is able to demonstrate progress towards FIRST’s mission of transforming our culture.  The recipient will be invited to the FIRST Championship where it will compete for the Chairman’s Award against the winners from all the other qualifying events.

  • Team 399, Eagle Robotics from Lancaster, 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.

Regional Winners

  • Team 5199, Robot Dolphins from Outer Space from San Juan Capistrano, CA
  • Team 4414, High Tide from Ventura, CA
  • Team 5526, Penoles, from Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico (wildcard)

Dean’s List Finalists

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.

  • Maryanne Molina from Team 399
  • John Chang from Team 2658

Woodie Flowers Finalist

  • Ayşegül Boz from Team 6989

Additional Awards

Congratulations to the Teams and individuals that earned the remaining awards at the Aerospace Valley Regional! See the list here.

Support

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 at the Aerospace Valley Regional!

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