Students from across the Lowcountry have been showing off their robotics, science, and technology skills for the past 13 years at FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology) and now teams are gearing up (and recruiting) for next year.
After the FIRST Palmetto regional came to Charleston last year the number of participating schools has ratcheted up to seven and Charleston's oldest high school team, the "Burning Magnetos," is gearing Charleston's up for it's second annual high school robotics competition.
Last week teams 342 (The Burning Magnetos of Fort Dorchester High), 3489 (Category 5 of Summerville High and Ashley Ridge High), the 2012 rookie team (Iron Wolverines at Woodlands High), and Dorchester Career School met at BOSCH to kickoff this year's preseason activities.
The teams from Fort Dorchester, Summerville, and Ashley Ridge high schools stole the show by displaying last year’s robots and representing their sub-teams including Mechanical Engineering, ElectricalEngineering, Programming, 3D Animation, Inventor Design, Website, and Chairman's Award teams.
Teams are forming now and getting ready for the 2012 Season Kickoff on January 7th at the Citadel. The preseason preparation is for fundraising, recruiting students and mentors, and starting to build the skills they will need to prepare them for the season.
The next event is a scrimmage match in Columbia on October 29th, so to get involved or for more information refer to the contact information below.
More than 130 people came out to learn more and get involved, it was the highest preseason turnout in thirteen years. Pairing up with the community interest, more than 130 colleges, universities, and corporations provide greater than $15 million in scholarship opportunities and host events; Clemson University and the University of South Carolina alone have 14 partial scholarships for FIRST participants.
| Team# | Name | Schools | Contact | |
| 342 | The Burning Magnetos | Ft. Dorchester H.S.* | Hank Bennett | Hank.Bennett@us.bosch.com |
| 3475 | The Crop | W. Ashley H.S. | Phillip Beyel | Phillip_beyel@charlesotn.k12.sc.us |
| 3489 | Category 5 | Ashley Ridge & Summerville H.S. | Shawn Stocklas | Shawn.stocklas@us.bosch.com |
| 3490 | Viperdrive | Cane Bay H.S | Michael White | whitemichael@berkeley.k12.sc.us |
| new | Iron Wolverines | Woodland H.S. & Dorchester Career School | Sylvester Rolack | Srolack2@gmail.com |
*Homeschool Students welcome as well
Volunteers and mentors can contact: Elizabeth Barndollar - elizabethbarndollar@gmail.com
Sponsors can contact: Hank Bennett - Hank.Bennett@us.bosch.com
Find out more or contact FIRST in the Lowcountry on Facebook.
