Schools
Bloomfield Hills Students Win Top Honors at International Robotics Competition: VIDEO
Along with peers from three other schools, including Holland, MI, the students claimed top honors in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship in St. Louis.
Team 469, “Las Guerrillas,” the robotics team from Bloomfield Hills’ International Academy High School was among the top four finishers in a national robotics competition in St. Louis last weekend.
The students were among more than 12,000 students from 38 countries who put their engineering skills to a test at the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship, held at the Edward Jones Dome.
The three-day event came down to a heart-pounding conclusion Saturday night in front of a roaring crowd of 20,000 when the Bloomfield Hills team, along with the students peers from Dallas, TX, San Jose, CA and Holland, MI won the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championship Winning Alliance.
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In this year’s game, AERIAL ASSISTS, the teams took to the field, where competing Alliances scored points by throwing balls over a truss, catching balls and putting as many balls in goals as possible. The more Alliances worked together to score, the more points their Alliance received. This year, 68,175 students on 2,727 FRC teams in 17 countries participated in 98 Regional and District competitions.
In all, more than 12,000 students, ages 6 to 18, participated in the Championship events.
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“This country celebrates sports and entertainment, but wealth is not created by these ventures; it is the result,” said FIRST Founder, Dean Kamen. “It’s a passion for science, technology, and innovation that have allowed these industries to prosper. Take what you have learned here and solve the world’s problems.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, but here in St. Louis with you; the future,” STEM education advocate, will.i.am, said to a crowd of 20,000 people. “If you want a peek at the future, you come here to the FIRST Championship. And when I say future, I mean future leaders, future inventors, and future problem solvers.”
“I’ve been impressed and inspired by you all,” said Amy Kule, Group Vice President, Macy’s Parade and Entertainment Group. “Continue to think bigger, think smarter, and save the world.”
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