Sag Harbor Robotics Team Competes In Albany

SAG HARBOR, NY — Pierson High School's robotic team headed to Albany last week to compete.

According to the Sag Harbor School District, Team 28 participated in the first of two competitions on March 13 to March 16. Susan McCarthy, the team’s coach and a history teacher at the school, lead the students representing Pierson in its 27th year of participating in the international FIRST Robotics Competition, the district said.

In between sessions, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele stopped by the Pierson robotics tent to speak with the students; Thiele is a Pierson alumnus, as is his son, also a past competitor for Team 28, McCarthy said.

Pierson’s robotics team was awarded a $6,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation, McCarthy said.

According to their website, the Gene Haas Foundation was established to help aid local communities by supporting the growing need for skilled manufacturing employees industry-wide. The grant will help the Pierson robotics team with travel expenses, materials and scholarships for college bound students, the district said.

Next up for Team 28 is the second stage of the FIRST Robotics regional competition held at Hofstra University on Monday through Wednesday.