Nevada FRC Team 987, dubbed The High Rollers, is made up of energetic and talented local Cimarron High School students. In April 2016, this Las Vegas team took home the Chairman’s Award win at the 2016 FIRST Robotics World Championship!
This year, more than 20,000 students ages 6-18 from around the globe traveled to St. Louis, putting their engineering skills to the test. The High Rollers won the Chairman’s Award, which is the highest honor given at the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship. It recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.
“Our planet’s future depends on today’s kids becoming the innovators, doers, and tinkerers of tomorrow,” writes Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder. “That’s why FIRST exists — to influence young people to embrace science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as educational and professional career paths. FIRST programs are cleverly designed to get them started early and keep them involved all the way through high school and beyond. You’ll witness their unbridled enthusiasm for each other, and for what they can do, in every corner of this event.”
The FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sports with the rigors of science and technology. Teams of 25+ students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get.
To help along the way, volunteer Mentors gave their time and talents to guide each of the teams.
“Our mission is to inspire young people to become science and technology leaders,” Angela Quick, Regional Director at FIRST Nevada, told us last month. “We engage them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster self-confidence, communication, and leadership.”
Relive the excitement of #FIRSTChamp by watching this highlight reel!