FIRST Robotics Team 217, the ThunderChickens from Utica Community Schools, part of the FIRST Robotics Competition, won the Buckeye Regional Chairman’s Award at the Buckeye FRC Regional last weekend.
The Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious honor in the FIRST program. It is awarded to teams that best represent a team model that other teams can relate to and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.
The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant and measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, among its school, and its community over a sustained period; not just a single season or school year.
“The Chairman’s Award should be telling the students that the things we’re doing as a team, and as individuals, are important and rewarding,” said teacher and team mentor Ron Arscheene, adding that Team 217’s long tradition of working to support other teams likely played a role in the win.
Teams that win the Chairman’s Award at the regional level automatically qualify for the World Championship – held this year in St. Louis. The ThunderChickens have won the Chairman’s Award four times in their 13-season history. They have won at one district event (2009), two regional events (2006, 2007), and once at the Michigan State Competition (2009).
To see a complete list of awards and years awarded, go to www.thunderchickens.org.
About ThunderChickens
The ThunderChickens are a part of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). The team is comprised of 43 high school students from Utica Community Schools. The group started off as Team Macomb in 1999, and broke off as the ThunderChickens in 2002. Around this time, Ford Motor Company was beginning a project of their own that was eventually nicknamed the ThunderChicken.
In honor of the team's greatest supporter and sponsor, students adopted the name. Since 2002, the ThunderChickens have been district champs five times, regional champs six times, state champs two times, world division champs six times, and World Champions two times.
For additional information, visit thunderchickens.org or email us at thunderchickenspr@gmail.com.
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