Whittier Tech’s FIRST Robotics Team, the ‘Maroon Monsoon,’ was recognized with the Team Spirit Award in a regional competition this February. (Courtesy Photo Whittier Tech) 
Baylee Deleon-Perez,a freshman, of Haverhill, shows Whittier’ Tech’s robot in a recent FIRST Robotics competition to younger students. (Courtesy Photo Whittier Tech)
HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to announce that Whittier’s FIRST Robotics Team earned the Team Spirit Award in a recent regional competition.
On Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29 members of Whittier Tech’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics team, named the “Maroon Monsoon,” competed in the New England FIRST: Granite State District Event competition in Salem, New Hampshire. In all, 40 teams of high school students participated in the event from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
The Team Spirit Award recognizes the team’s support of one another throughout the competition.
Whittier’s team, which includes 32 students from a variety of Whittier’s vocational programs, placed 14th in the competition, and have been preparing for the event since January. During the first weekend of January every year, FIRST Robotics announces challenges that will be associated with a game through which student teams will compete at each competition. Students then design, program and build robots to complete those tasks in six weeks.
“Well done to these students, who collaborated effectively and used their knowledge of robotics to build a robot in a matter of weeks,” Superintendent Lynch said. “The FIRST Robotics program is a wonderful opportunity for students to challenge themselves, practice team building and compete against their peers. I’d also like to thank the team’s mentor, Bob Beaton, for supporting the Maroon Monsoon team year after year.”
“Students learn an incredible amount through FIRST Robotics, and it’s a joy to see them become so invested in creating a robot, challenging themselves and learning from the process,” Beaton, an electronics and robotics instructor said. “It’s a pleasure to work with the students year after year through this program, and we’re looking forward to their next competition later this month.”
The Maroon Monsoon team will compete again this month on March 14 and 15 at Reading Memorial High School in Reading at the NE FIRST: North Shore District event.
Whittier’s FIRST Robotics team is sponsored by Globus Medical, AVNET, Kuhlman Electrical Services, Daniel Marr and Sons, National Grid and The North Shore Realty Group.
About FIRST Robotics:
The FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport and the rigors of science. Under strict rules, limited resources, and the guidance of volunteer mentors, including engineers, teachers, business professionals, parents, alumni and more, teams of 25+ students build and program robots to perform challenging tasks against a field of competitors.
They must also raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and perform community outreach. In addition to learning valuable STEM and life skills, participants are eligible to apply for $80 million in college scholarships.
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