Alexander's FTC Robotics Team Continues To Have A Successful Season

The Alexander Comets FTC Robotics Team #9963 started off the year with what has become the norm for the program, a successful season. 

On Jan. 7, the team traveled to Fargo to compete against 12 teams and won the 1st place Connect Award, the 2nd place Inspire award and the 2nd place Motivate award. 

The team also competed at the Dakota Adventist Academy Bismarck Regional competition, competing against 18 teams, and taking home the 1st place Motivate award and the 3rd place Innovate award. 

At the FTC State Championship on Feb. 5, 12 robotics teams competed at the Bismarck Career Academy and the Alexander Public School's robotics team won the 1st place Motivate award, 1st Place Promote Award, 2nd place Inspire Award, 2nd Place Think Award, 2nd Place Connect Award, and the Finalist Alliance 1st team selected Award.

The team hopes to advance to other competitions including a Maryland Tec Invitational. The FTC team will apply to attend the MTI at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory,Laurel, MD, on June 24-26. 

"This competition is all about the Robot," added Alexander Robotics Team mentor/coach, Cathy White.

The team is also looking to return to the National Advocacy Conference, Washington, DC, in June. 

"This event is for the purpose of advocating for STEM and Robotics in Education across the country. We will specifically be speaking to our own ND Legislators about the importance of STEM and Robotics in education and building the foundation of skills students will need to be successful in the future," explained White. 

"The FTC team is always looking for mentors from the engineering and technology world. We are also looking for additional sponsors for our team and the events we would like to participate in."

The team hosted a scrimmage, inviting teams from Tioga, Minot, and Bismarck to come to Alexander and work together to show Gracious Professionalism. 

"Answering questions and helping each other is how FTC teams work together," said White.

On March 5, the team is hosting an additional event this year called a Nerf Battle. It is a fundraising event that will be open to the school and public in the Alexander Public School gymnasium. There will be teams formed, set match times, practice round, and free-for-alls. The cost for the event is $5 per person or $30 for a team of seven. Concessions will be available to purchase throughout the day.

This event is a fundraiser to help support the FTC program - the proceeds will be split with a local kindergarten student that was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2021.

For more information check out the FTC team on social media by searching Alexander Comets FTC Robotics Team #9963.