FIRST robotics

Mascoma Valley Students Excel through Regional Upper Valley Robotics Team 

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Mascoma Valley School District 

Amanda Isabelle, Superintendent

Rt. 4
PO Box 789
Enfield, NH 03748

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 24, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

Email: [email protected]

Mascoma Valley Students Excel through Regional Upper Valley Robotics Team 

ENFIELD, N.H. — Superintendent Amanda Isabelle is pleased to share that the Upper Valley Robotics Team ranked 16th in New England after a series of robotics competitions this school year.

The Upper Valley Robotics Team, also known as FIRST Robotics Competition Team 95, is a regional group of students from schools including Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC), Hartford, Hanover, Lebanon and Mascoma Valley, as well as homeschooled students.

After this year’s FIRST Robotics competition cycle, the team placed 16th out of the 210 registered teams in New England. The team also qualified for the World Championship competition in Detroit, Michigan this April, but did not attend.

The FIRST Robotics Competition annually challenges students to raise funds and build a robot in six weeks that they will enter into regional competitions. The team named their 2019 robot Cecelia Payne, and were supported during the process by the HACTC, Progressive Manufacturing Inc., and local companies including FujiFilm Dimatix, Hypertherm, and Timken.

James Cole-Henry, an engineer at Fujifilm, is the head coach for the team. There are approximately 14 students and eight coaches on the team.

The Upper Valley Robotics Team is one of a select few in the world capable of completing all 12 cycles needed to finish a rocket by themselves, and has successfully done so in competition.

“These students worked remarkably hard to build their robot, and I think their success this season illustrates their superb knowledge of robotics,” Superintendent Isabelle said. “This program provides a wonderful opportunity for students to learn directly from local professionals, and being a regional team, students also had the opportunity to work alongside their peers from other schools.”

The team took part in four regional competitions this school year. They placed as quarter finalists in the April 10-13 New England District Championship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts; finalists at the 2019 New England District Central Massachusetts Competition from March 29-31 at Shrewsbury High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; event winners at the New England District North Shore Event on March 15-17 at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, Massachusetts; and semifinalists at the 2019 New England District Granite State Event in Salem, New Hampshire from March 15-17.

The team also won an Engineering Excellence award at the North Shore event and an Industrial design award at the Central Massachusetts event.

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Whittier’s FIRST Robotics Team Wins Award for “Gracious Professionalism” at Competition

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Friday, March 22, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Whittier’s FIRST Robotics Team Wins Award for “Gracious Professionalism” at Competition

Students Place 5th Out of 38 teams in New England Tournament

The Whittier FIRST Robotics Team earned the Gracious Professionalism award during a competition on March 16-17. (Courtesy Photo Whittier Tech)

HAVERHILL — Whittier’s FIRST Robotics Team took home an award at its recent competition after students exemplified the spirit of the FIRST program.

Now in its sixth season, team 4929 — the Maroon Monsoon — competed on March 16-17 at the New England Regional Competition. There, they earned the Gracious Professionalism award for their demonstration of FIRST core values – discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun. The team also came in fifth overall out of 38 teams.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) defines Gracious Professionalism as competing like crazy, but doing it with respect and kindness. The team that wins the award blends knowledge, competition and empathy throughout the event.

Team mentor Bob Beaton credits the team earning the award after a change in strategy this year, which was centered on trusting the design process and sticking to the plan.

“It was this spirit that students personified while working in their alliances throughout the weekend that made all the difference,” Beaton said. “I’m extremely proud of how everyone performed over the weekend. We’ve come a long way in six years, and to take home this award while also placing fifth is quite an accomplishment for students.”

During the weekend-long event, students designed and built 125-pound robots and competed against each other in multiple 2 1/2 minute rounds of task-oriented games. The tasks are revealed prior to the competition, in January, and teams have six weeks to design and build their robot.

The FIRST team, which participates in two competitions each year, draws students from a variety of vocational areas, as well as freshmen. Students interested in joining the team meet once a week beginning in September and for longer hours during the six-week build season. This year, the 30-student squad collectively logged 2,339 hours during their build season.

In addition to the team’s recognition, Beaton, received a nomination for the Dr. Woodie Flowers Award, which recognizes an individual who has done an outstanding job of motivating participants through communication, while also challenging students to be clear and succinct in their communications. Whittier students wrote an essay to nominate Beaton earlier this year, and his nomination will be considered at the New England District Championship in late April.

Members of the Maroon Monsoon include:

Juniors: Gabriele Logan, of Newburyport; Josh Horgan, of Merrimac; Matthew Miller, of Amesbury; and Emmanual Jean-Baptiste, of Haverhill.

Sophomores: Isaiah Bacon, of Haverhill; Caleb Cook, of Haverhill; Liam Dunphy, of Haverhill; Tyler Magowan, of Amesbury; Ethan Dang, of Haverhill; Nick Ferragine, of Amesbury; and Cody Pierce, of Haverhill.

Freshmen: Gianna Iannuzzo-Christie, of Haverhill; Sedric Miner, of Ipswich, Ryan Link, of Haverhill; Max Aja, of Haverhill; and Sam Komola of Haverhill.

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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