Buzz Robotics Triumphs at NEFIRST Hartford District Event

Enfield, CT - Buzz Robotics, representing Enfield High School, emerged victorious at the 2024 NEFIRST Hartford District Event held on Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3, at Hartford Public High School. The event had over 30 teams hailing from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Despite intense competition all weekend, the team secured an impressive 5th rank and joined forces with Bobcat Robotics from South Windsor and the Gongoliers from Rhode Island to achieve success and emerge as the 4th-seeded winning alliance, beating the 5th, 1st, 7th and 3rd-seeded alliances in a double-elimination bracket. Their collaborative efforts showcased the spirit of teamwork and innovation inherent in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

In addition to their stellar performance on the field, Buzz took home the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors. This award celebrates the team that demonstrates industrial design principles, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics. Furthermore, Sophia Carrier, a junior on the team, was honored as one of two Dean's List Award Semi-Finalists announced at the event. The Dean’s List Award recognizes the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary school students. Sophia will be one of 22 students competing for five Dean’s List Award Finalist spots at the New England District Championship in West Springfield, Mass. on April 4-6.

Buzz is gearing up for their next challenge at the University of Rhode Island event in Kingston, RI, on March 14-16. There, they will face 29 teams from across New England. As they prepare for future competitions, the team is actively seeking support to cover travel expenses, especially for the District Championship and travel and registration for future competitions. The team is hoping to qualify for the World Championship in Houston in April, as well.

“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said Lauren Jefferson, one of two lead mentors for Buzz Robotics. “They’ve worked incredibly hard to get here and this is our first win in 8 years. We got enough points to qualify for the District Championship off of this event and we want to make sure our whole team can attend without costs becoming an obstacle.”

To contribute and support the endeavors of Buzz Robotics and its dedicated students and mentors, please visit https://www.buzzrobotics.org/sponsors/support. Their PayPal fundraiser can be found here: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/122438045758036817

For media inquiries or further information, please contact frc0175@gmail.com.

About Buzz Robotics:
Buzz Robotics is a pioneering force in the field of robotics, representing Enfield High School in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Comprised of talented students and dedicated mentors, Buzz Robotics strives for excellence in innovation, engineering, and teamwork, embodying the core values of FIRST.