Houston, We Have A Bulldog: Hewlett High Robotics Team Advances From LI Championships

HEWLETT, NY. — A group of Hewlett High School students will have the chance to go to Houston this spring after they had a banner day at the Long Island Robotics Championships.

Hosted on Hewlett’s home turf, Hewlett High’s “Team Innovo” won top marks, winning the “Inspire Award,” given to the championships’ top team. That honor, district officials said, will give the team the chance to compete at the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX, held from Apr. 29 to May 2.

“The FIRST Championship, presented by BAE Systems, is the culminating international event for youth robotics programs and a premier celebration of STEM excellence,” district officials said.

Additionally, a Hewlett team known as “RoboBoogie” won second place in the Inspire Award competition, while Hewlett high’s “Bionica” team won the “Sustain Award,” given to a team that shows a commitment to innovation and teamwork.

Finally, Hewlett robotics coach Daniel Duffey Birkenstock was awarded for his leadership of the robotics program through a season that district officials said displayed laudable collaboration and ingenuity while preparing its competitors for futures in STEM.