(from left to right) Team MoHawk Warriors, Harmony School of Advancement, Muammar Guven, coach; Kenneth Lafley; Zain Mohammed; Ali Batayneh; and Shayan Parvizi (not pictured). Team Vector Robotics, Hamshire-Fannett High School, Blake Fredieu; Katie Meaux; Tommy Wendling; Carrie Sparks; Calob Broussard; Lauren Munoz; Mitchell Clubb; Cole Minter; Bryan Edwards, coach; Cody Chesser; Mason Burdick; and Greg Chesser, coach. Sharon Sledge, FIRST Tech Challenge event coordinator, San Jacinto College. Photo credit: Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing department.

Robotics teams go head-to-head for a spot at world championship

 Jeannie Peng-Armao -- March 8, 2012

PASADENA, Texas — San Jacinto College (SJC) recently hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics competition where high school teams vied for a shot on the world level.

The MoHawk Warriors from Harmony School of Advancement and Vector Robotics from Hamshire-Fannett High School were the winning teams that advanced on to the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship event in St. Louis, Mo., scheduled for April 25-29.

Thirteen teams prepped and programmed their robotics for bowling matches that required them to place racquetballs into crates and then stack the crates. With this task, the robots also felt the pressure, and in result, occasionally fell over.

Alondra Gonzalez, a RoboSharks team member from Palacios High School, said it felt good to finally be a part of a team after witnessing all the excitement last year from the stands.

"This was amazing," said Gonzalez, who hopes to one day work as an engineer. "Our team was completely new to this. Last year, we were here as spectators. I never would have thought we would be here competing with our robot."

San Jacinto College is now considered a FTC affiliate partner for the southeast region of Texas, said Sharon Sledge, event coordinator and SJC math professor. The teams that competed had previously qualified during last month's regional competition, also held at the College.

"Robotics is so exciting for everyone," said Sledge, adding that approximately 40 SJC students and faculty members volunteered at the competition. "It's a wonderful way to prepare students to go into the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.”

FIRST is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills. For more information, visit http://www.usfirst.org.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

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