One of Brother Martin’s newest organizations is the FIRST Tech Challenge Team. The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) provides students with the opportunity to learn and apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills by designing, building, and programming a robot to compete in an annual game. However, FTC is more than a just robotics program. Students in FTC find innovative solutions to difficult problems through collaboration, learn the value of hard work, and have an outlet for their creativity and ingenuity.
The team traveled to Baton Rouge to compete in the first ever Louisiana FTC Qualifier hosted by Woodlawn High School. Students from Louisiana and Texas took part in an entire day of competition and cooperation. Every group was interviewed by a panel of judges, had to ensure that their robot met game specifications, lent a helping hand to teams in need, and worked in randomly selected alliances to battle against each other in a game called “Cascade Effect”.
Brother Martin’s FTC Team (8960) performed well–winning four out of five qualification matches. The team was ranked 4th overall going into the elimination round but did not win their semifinal match. This was an amazing showing for a rookie team competing against several veteran teams. Congratulations, Saders, on your success, and good luck in future tournaments!
