What is FTC? FTC stands for FIRST® Tech Challenge. As the FIRST program website points out, “It’s about way more than just building robots.” Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills and practice engineering principles such as keeping an engineering notebook, all while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, teamwork, and idea sharing. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages, including Java. Another component of the program is more business oriented. Teams must raise funds, design, and market their team brand, as well as engage in community outreach for which they can win awards. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships.

Each season concludes with regional championship events and an exciting FIRST Championship. Some teams are associated with schools and some are regional. Carpenter notes, “We had high-schools from all over the Bay Area and Sacramento regions at our event last year, and we are expecting teams from all over the map again this year.”

The positive impact on FTC participants is gratifying and well documented. More than 86% have more interest in doing well in school and 87% are more interested in attending college. Living proof of the lasting impact can be found in alums like our Eric Fitzgerald ’16, who received several thousand dollars in scholarship funds to attend Embry-Riddle and study engineering. His scholarship was specifically a recognition of his participation in FTC. Another Justin-Siena alum Donna Roscoe ’16 has taken her FTC training and expertise all the way to Amherst College where she is currently working on robots.

The program is well aligned with our Lasallian mission to serve and to lead by their commitment to serving others and mentoring younger robotics enthusiasts. Our Justin-Siena robotics teams enjoy hosting and mentoring FLL (FIRST® Lego League). FLL is a program in which elementary and middle school-aged students in grades 4 through 8 research real-world engineering challenges, develop solutions, and compete with Lego-based robots of their own design. Justin-Siena began hosting FLL tournaments in November 2014 and have hosted one each year for the past five years. The most recent FLL was the fifth annual league competition which took place on campus on November 10 hosting a massive Qualifying Tournament for 16 teams!  A sampling of the teams in attendance were: William Hopkins Junior High, Capital Christian School, Core Butte Charter, Theodore Judah Elementary, Joaquin Miller Middle School, and Silver Oak Elementary.

For the upcoming FTC Justin-Siena will be featuring some powerhouse competitors. An Invicta team members points out, “We practice every Saturday from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, and occasionally use our free periods during the school week. Although we all have busy schedules and many interests, Robotics takes precedent in most all our lives.” The FTC website confirms that the program is, “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.” This year’s roster includes: Team 10434 Negative Kelvin assembling the talents of Dexter Kelly, Theo Lemeiux, Ben Levy, Noah Martine, Piper O'neill, Francis Rebullida, Joseph Rowlands, Amina Schnebelt, Aidan Schuemann, Hassan Shafi, Sahil Dadhwal, Kelly Tang, Serena Chen, and Steve Xu. Team 12009 Terminal Ferocity features the active imaginations of Brandt Duncan, Christopher Duff, Will Fischer, Jackson Jones, Phineas Kelly, Katie O'neill, Connor Machado, Meara Manzon, Christian Mora, Carson Reber, Tyler Pitts, Vishnu Vijayakumar, Leo Han, and Emma Carpenter. Team 15075 Invicta is our new "Varsity" team made up of the best and brightest (or at least most seasoned) Deven Bose, Jordan Bowman-Davis, Peter Bowman-Davis, Carlos Caravantes, Dante Cavaz, Michael Fitzgerald, Rachael Fitzgerald, Liam Gleeson, Billy Katz, Gary Laski, Etienne Robin, and Emma Routhier.

Personal testimonials from current FTC competitors include Peter Bowman-Davis who states “I have participated in three years of FLL and am excited for my second year of FTC. The experience I have gained is invaluable in my everyday life, and I love applying what I have learned. No matter where I might go in the future, I know that FIRST programs have made me a better equipped and more forward thinking individual.”

Veteran Gary Laski adds, “I joined FTC out of my interest for engineering that sprouted from PLTW (Project Lead the Way), and I immediately fell in love with the program. I partake in mainly the programming aspect of the team, but I also spend time working on 3D design and organization. Outside of the team I also spend time programming various projects, working on circuitry, and I dabble a bit in gaming. I am excited for this year’s FTC game and the excitement it will bring.” Honors and Achievements accumulated over the past few years include: Dean's List Finalist: Elizabeth Hyde, Dean's List Semi-Finalists: Gary Laski, Etienne Robin, Jordan Bowman-Davis, and Joey Devine. Our teams are also FTC two time winners of The Rockwell Collins Innovate Award, and Justin-Siena teams also racked up The Motivate Award, Control Award, Judges Award, and the prestigious Finalist Alliance Trophy.

What began as a fledgling JSRI summer program planted the seeds for rapid growth, from 4 to 12 students in the first month, up to twenty-three students the following year. Currently the program boasts a team of forty active and innovative members. Team players who not only compete, but also fund-raise, solicit new sponsors, and create both business and strategic plans. As such, the program is nurturing both business skills as well as STEM skills. FTC and FLL don’t simply happen because of motivated students. “It takes a village” to make these events a reality. More than thirty dedicated staff and faculty selflessly donate their precious “off-duty” time to supporting, encouraging, feeding, transporting, supplying, evaluating, and judging the talented participants. In addition, there are numerous alums, parents, and sponsors who generously invest both time and money to sustain these vital programs.

As Lasallians we are fostering a “community that prepares students to serve and to lead in an ever-changing world.” The next FTC will once again be here at Justin-Siena on February 9, 2019 and will showcase a Qualifying Tournament for twenty-eight teams from the greater Bay Area and Sacramento regions. We are proud of the students who are taking us into the future. Their talents and resourcefulness are living proof that Robotics are no longer just Science Fiction.