Ossining High School Robotics Team Qualifies for FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Finals

The Ossining High School Robotics Team will advance to the regional finals after placing third in the FIRST Tech Challenge Hudson Valley qualifying tournament in Yonkers Jan. 21.

The Ossining students also received the “Motivate” award at the FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – qualifying tournament. It celebrates the team that exemplifies the essence of the competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.

There are more than 20 teams in the region that are participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge, which is for students in grades 7 to 12. The regional finals are Feb. 5 at Pace University in Pleasantville and the championship is in April. More than 5,000 teams around the world are expected to compete this season.

Students in the FIRST Tech Challenge this year designed a robot using aluminum, polycarbonate, motors, sensors and other materials. For the competition, called “Velocity Vortex,” they built and programmed robots to shoot balls (called particles) into center and corner vortexes, and to press buttons on beacons that were mounted on the field’s walls. Part of the challenge is an interview with judges about design, engineering, outreach and other categories.

“This weekend was a blast. You could feel the excitement on the competition floor. The teams were in high spirits while keeping gracious professionalism as their highest priority,” said sophomore Elliot Ocheltree, referring to one of the core values of FIRST.

Ossining High School has been expanding its robotics program, and this was the first year students participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge.

“Congratulations to our Ossining High School Robotics Club for their success in the FIRST Tech Challenge qualifying tournament,” Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said. “They should be particularly proud of the ‘Motivate’ award, which shows their excellent character, commitment and enthusiasm.”

The Tech Challenge is the next level up in the FIRST competitions from the FIRST LEGO League. Ossining’s Anne M. Dorner Middle School “Robotics Wizards” team participated in the Hudson Valley qualifying tournament Jan. 21 and will advance to the semifinals.

In addition to the Tech Challenge, the OHS O-Bots are competing again in the FIRST Robotics Competition for ninth- through 12th-graders. They have six weeks to design and build a robot for the competition.

This year, FIRST NYC will hold the inaugural Hudson Valley Regional FIRST Robotics Competition March 24-26 in Suffern. In previous years, the closest events were outside the region. Ossining is among the school districts helping to organize the event.

The FIRST Tech Challenge and the FIRST Robotics Competition are excellent programs that foster knowledge, teamwork, competition and interest and inspiration in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), said Douglas Albrecht, OHS science teacher and Engineering Club adviser.

“We added the FIRST Tech Challenge team at OHS this year to expand opportunities for the underclassmen to gain knowledge and experience,” he said.