The Green Machine recently competed in the Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional competition, where the team won the Regional Engineering Inspiration Award, qualifying us again to attend the FIRST World Championships in late April.
The award celebrates a team who demonstrates excellence in promoting engineering within their community. Winning the award means that the recipient team’s travel fee to the FIRST World Championship is paid for by NASA.
In addition to winning the Engineering Inspiration Award, the team was also the recipient of the Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award, which recognizes a team’s outstanding measures of ensuring safety.
Lastly, FIRST Team 1816 mentor Laurie Shimizu was the recipient of the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award. This award recognizes mentors who “lead and inspire using outstanding communication techniques.” Mrs. Shimizu, a mentor with our Team since 2006, is now eligible for the Woodie Flowers Award at the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis.
This is the 10th anniversary of the founding of the FIRST Minnesota Regional competitions. Team videographer Caroline H. captured some of the excitement of the event in a recap video.
Though the Green Machine’s robot did not advance into the playoff rounds at the 10,000 Lakes Regional, team members are using our Team’s practice robot to continue to make improvements in robot functionality and programming ahead of the World Championships in St. Louis, MO. We look forward to being able to compete with FIRST teams from around the world, and are excited to have this opportunity! Follow our journey via Twitter, @FIRSTteam1816.