A Red Deer high school's robotics team has returned home from an international competition with a prestigious award.
St. Joseph High School's Gyro Falcons won the Rookie All-Star Award at a recent FIRST Robotics Competition event in Nampa, Idaho. This award recognizes a rookie team that “exemplifies a young but strong partnership, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to aspire students to learn more about science and technology.”
The Gyro Falcons competed against high school robotics teams from around the world from March 27-29.
In their remarks, the judges stated: “This team took flight to their first season with a sharp focus and high energy. With eyes on the horizon, they soared into success advocating for STEM in their community.”
St. Joseph High School is a "dedicated supporter" of FIRST, fostering STEM education through robotics, states a Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools media release on April 14.
The school's FIRST Tech Challenge program has grown significantly, from one team of four to five teams with 32 students who dedicate Saturdays to designing, building and programming robots for annual competitions. St. Joseph also fields the Gyro Falcons in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), where students tackle the challenge of building large, complex robots.
"We are incredibly proud of the Gyro Falcons’ outstanding achievement in their rookie season," said Gary Gylander, St. Joseph principal.
"Their dedication, innovation, and passion for STEM have truly shone on an international stage. This award is a testament to their hard work and the support they have received from our school and community."
St. Joseph hosted the Alberta FIRST Lego League and FIRST Tech Challenge Provincial Championship from March 15-16. The Red Deer high school's students also actively support Red Deer Polytechnic's Robot Warriors FTC and FLL programs.
In addition to having various sponsors, the team has raised approximately $2,000 through fundraising efforts, including online sales and partnerships with local businesses.
"Ongoing support is crucial to ensure the program's continued success and to make these valuable experiences accessible to more students," states Red Deer Catholic.
