LAHS Project Y Drive Team ‘J Robot Oppenhopper’ includes Amelia Hill, Adam Cincio, Seb Koglin, John Kang and Rafa Rocha along with other New Mexico teams of the Winning Alliance. Photo by Heather Ward
LAHS Project Y Drive Team for ‘General Leslie Grobot’ strategizing for competition includes Ryn Watts, Zea Ward, Jake Schultz, Alex Justus and Miles Wilden. Photo by Elizabeth Watts
PRJOECT Y ROBOTICS TEAM NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos High School’s Project Y Robotics Team made history on July 11 by hosting ABQ RoboRumble, New Mexico’s first-ever FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) event at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque.
The off-season competition brought together 13 robots from across the state and was the culmination of months of planning. The vision for bringing an FRC event to New Mexico began with Andy Erickson, a long-time Project Y mentor. Event Director Michelle Koglin said, “The more than 60 volunteers were incredible. With mentoring from experienced FIRST volunteers from five other states, many New Mexico volunteers are now prepared and committed to leading official FRC event roles at future competitions.”
State Senator Nicole Tobiassen opened the event and expressed her support for expanding FIRST Robotics in New Mexico. The event also received statewide attention when it was featured on the July 11 KOB 4 News evening broadcast.
The event concluded with Project Y taking home a championship banner as part of the first-place alliance. Project Y also fielded a second robot that finished on the runner-up alliance, led by a new mechanical team and drive team.
As he concludes his term, outgoing CEO John Kang expressed confidence in newly elected CEO Sebastian Koglin and the team’s future. “Preparing for this event built the depth of skills and leadership that will carry into future seasons,” Kang said. “I’m excited to see Sebastian and this cohesive team build on that foundation.”
The success of ABQ RoboRumble marks an important milestone for New Mexico’s FIRST Robotics Competition community, whose teams have long traveled to Texas to compete in FRC events.
For more information about FRC Team 4153 – Project Y, contact info@team4153.org.