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This year, students at Lake Roosevelt High School will be participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge as part of Raider Robotics. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a competition that uses sports models and engineering principles to create a robot that is prepared to compete throughout the school year.

Each robot is made up of aluminum parts that allow team members to add sensor kits, larger wheels, 4 DC motors, and Lego parts. Games are played on a 12-foot by 12-foot area covered in rubberized floor tiles.

FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” was founded in 1989 with a mission “To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.”

A group of 10 students as well as coaches, mentors, and volunteers will make up the Raider Robotics team, explained SHARP Kids Coordinator Lee Seekins. Each year the game challenge is different with the challenge announced at Game Kickoff. This year's kickoff is scheduled for Sept. 8.

In addition to building and programming a robot, the team must keep an “Engineering Notebook” that keeps track of their team experience throughout the building of their robot.

Principal Brad Wilson is the team mentor, and a coach will be hired soon.

Team spots are open to any LRHS student who submits a letter of interest, application, and completes an interview. In order to keep their spot on the team, students must maintain academic eligibility including a 2.0 GPA with no failing grades.

Competitions will be held throughout the year. A state competition will be held in January, at a location to be announced. The “World Cup Competition” will be held during the month of April in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information on volunteering as a mentor or coach, contact Seekins at 633-3033.