FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Team 8651, known as “Wait for It…,” hailing from Pearl, MS, participated in the 2022 Innovate Mississippi Annual Conference on Technology Innovation. Since their participation in last year’s conference, Wait for It… has achieved remarkable success. They clinched the Mississippi State Championship and went on to impress at the World Championship, securing two prestigious awards. They also gained a new programming coach that they met at last year’s conference. who will be invaluable to them in this year’s competition.
In the month of April 2023, Wait for It… faced off against teams from across the globe at the FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship in Houston, Texas. Their outstanding performance earned them not one but two awards. They were honored with the Promote Award for their video promoting the FIRST® program. Additionally, one of their talented members, Chloe Allen from Brandon, MS, earned a coveted accolade known as the Dean’s List Award, named after FIRST® founder, Dean Kamen. This award, presented to only ten FTC participants worldwide, recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication.
In the early days of September, the team launched their 2023-2024 season, aptly named “CENTERSTAGE,” which spotlights the crucial role of STEM in the arts. The FIRST® Tech Challenge, under the FIRST® program, provides an invaluable platform for students to grasp the significance of STEM through hands-on experiences like designing, building, and programming robots. It also fosters essential skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and active community engagement. The team from Pearl, MS, epitomizes these values and consistently demonstrates their excellence in the realm of robotics.
