Point Loma FIRST robotics team
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), is a program founded by inventor Dean Kamen to get more young people involved and excited about science and engineering. Under strict rules, limited resources, and deadlines, high school teams of about 25 students or more design, build and program robots to compete in sports-inspired games against a field of competitors. This year’s game, “Rebound Rumble,” challenged teams to play the game of basketball while transversing a field of obstacles. Through the FIRST robotics competition (FRC), more than 60,000 high school students from various countries are engaged in this rigorous technical challenge. On March 3-4, more than 58 FRC teams will be competing at the San Diego regional competition in the Valley View Casino Center (formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena). More than 30 local teams participate in this free public event every year in an extraordinary display of wit and skill. The Holy Cows will be among them. The Holy Cows are a nationally ranked FRC team based out of High Tech High in Point Loma. They can usually be seen out volunteering in their community with “Daisy,” their warmhearted cow mascot in tow. Even while contributing more than 4,500 hours in community service every year, this devoted team still has time to build quality robots. The Holy Cows have consistently placed high at the San Diego Regional for the last four years, were champions of the Silicon Valley Regional in 2011, and won the Motorola Quality Award at the FIRST World Championships in 2011. — Kristin Olson, director of public relations, The Holy Cows …. Correia team makes big inroads

The rookie seventh-grade robotics team known as the “Robo Chicks” of Correia Middle School in Point Loma advanced to the semifinals round of their division during the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) regional championship onJan. 14 at Madison High School. The Robo Chicks competed against a field of primarily high school students in only their first-ever competition. The FIRST program exposes students to science and technology through robotics competitions, with programs for children as young as six, all the way through high school age. This year the theme for the FTC teams was called “Bowled Over,” where teams had design and build a robot to move bowling balls, racquet balls, stack crates and more to obtain points. For more information on FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org. To watch one of the matches from Jan. 14, visit this YouTube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBRwsOiL7eI&feat-re=youtube — Staff and contribution …. Rock robotics, regional recognition
The Rock Academy’s Warriors robotics team won two prestigious awards at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) San Diego Championship Tournament at Madison High School on Jan. 14. More than 500 students from Southern California competed for recognition and The Rock Academy robotics team took home the Connect Award and the Think Award.  The Connect Award is given to the team that most connected with their local community and the engineering community. The Warriors robotics team was acknowledged for several outreach events, including visits to the Ronald McDonald House, to spread the word about robotics.   The team also brought back the Think Award, which is awarded to the team that best reflects the journey the team took as they experienced the engineering design process during the build season. The Warrior’s engineering journal was recognized for its comprehensive information and well-organized format.   The Warriors were one of three nominees for the Inspire Award, the most prestigious FTC award, given to the team that truly embodies the challenge of the FTC program.  Rock Academy outreach partners won awards as well: Team Fusion from Dehesa Charter School won the Inspire Award and the Robo Chicks, an all-girl middle school rookie team from Correia Middle School, placed fifth overall in the Tesla division.  The team is preparing for their next competition in Las Vegas, where they hope to qualify for the World Championships.  — Rock Academy High student Chad Doran