JESUIT F.I.R.S.T. ROBOTICS CLUB
Team #3164: "Tigers"

After breaking into the world of robotics with two top regional awards during its 2009-2010 inaugural year, the Jesuit/Academy of the Holy Names  F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Club heads into its second year with great enthusiasm. The Robotics Club was established by senior Cole Schnitzer and his father, Col. Eric Schnitzer, along with Jesuit math teacher, Mr. John Lacy. Cole, who transferred from Bellarmine Prep, a Jesuit school in Tacoma, WA, was a member of the Bellarmine team that went to the national championship competition in 2008-09.

"For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology," or F.I.R.S.T., is a multi-national non-profit organization that aspires to making science math, engineering and technology as "cool" for kids as sports are today.  It is dedicated to changing the way America's young people regard science and technology and to inspiring an appreciation for the real-life rewards and career opportunities in these fields.

Each year F.I.R.S.T. develops their robotics competition by supplying an objective to teams of students who have a six-week build season to conceptualize, design, build, and test their robotic solution.  The objective is different each year;  details are kept secret until early January when it is simultaneously revealed to all teams during the Kick-off workshop broadcast nationwide.  Once the six weeks have passed, robots are transported to the competition site where all teams will compete in March.

"It's the Hardest Fun You'll Ever Have!"
During the build season, the robotics team students are extremely challenged.  They are project managers, fund-raisers, community out-reachers, computer programmers, electrical and mechanical engineers, graphic designers, website builders, videographers, animators, organizers, and most of all, a team.

For more information, visit F.I.R.S.T.'s national website.
To join Jesuit's F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Club team, contact faculty moderator Mr. John Lacy.