Friday, October 11, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Saturday, March 24, 2012
Robotics: Waialua, Baldwin and Island Pacific Academy Crowned Regional Champions
By News Release @ 8:23 PM :: 6686 Views :: Energy, Environment

Waialua, Baldwin and Island Pacific Academy Crowned Regional Champions

Six teams battle best of three in robotic "March Madness," Blue Alliance takes second

HONOLULU - After an exhilarating three rounds in the finals of the 2012 FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition, the Red Alliance consisting of Waialua High School (Oahu), Baldwin High School (Maui) and Island Pacific Academy (Oahu) outscored the Blue Alliance consisting of Punahou School (Oahu), West Hawaii Exploratory Academy (Big Island) and McKinley High School (Oahu) with a score of 48 to 41.

In an exciting three rounds, the Red Alliance took an early lead by winning round one. The Blue Alliance answered back, taking round two. In a classic matchup, it all came down to the final round. Waialua, the defending champions, led the Red Alliance to an early lead; however, McKinley High School picked up speed and began making basket after basket. As the seconds counted down, Baldwin and Island Pacific made their way to the Bridge to balance and score the final blow to win the match, as the Blue Alliance maneuvered two bots from Punahou and West Hawaii to successfully balance on their own bridge and even the score. In an exciting last 15 seconds, Baldwin and Island Pacific teetered on the Bridge and their robots flipped over, effectively taking them out of the match. McKinley raced to make baskets, but could not hold on as the buzzer sounded, and the Red Alliance came out victorious.

"These teams were tough, but we came together and pulled through," Jandie Sabo, a member of Waialua's Robotics team. "To come out on top again, with our Alliance, is a feeling like no other, especially since it is my senior year."

Attended by fans, families, educators and industry leaders, the FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition sponsored by BAE Systems awarded several teams with honors that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high impact partnerships between schools, businesses and communities. Held at the Stan Sheriff Center on March 22-24, the 38 high school student teams competed to earn a spot at the FIRST Championship held April 25-28, 2012, in St. Louis, Mo.

Representing Hawaii at the 2012 FIRST Championships will be:

  • *Baldwin High School
  • *Island Pacific Academy
  • *Kealakehe High School
  • *Kohala High School
  • *Waialua High School

"Every year student competitors amaze everyone with their teamwork and outstanding technical skills. The Championship teams will represent Hawaii well in the FIRST Championship in April," said Shelley Rowley, co-chair of FIRST in Hawaii Regional. "The energy in Stan Sheriff this week was electric, and I know we will see the passion for STEM continue into our community's across the state, and most importantly, in the classroom."

With the hope of winning one of the several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot over a six week period that solved a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. This year’s game, “Robot Rumble,” had robots participating in a basketball-style game where teams had two corner and two center goals to throw balls into.

Several awards were given out after the competition, including FIRST's most prestigious award - The Chairman's Award.

  • Industrial Design Award (sponsored by General Motors): Hot Rocks (#1056), Waiakea High School
  • Quality Award (sponsored by Motorola): The Hawaiian Kids (#359), Waialua High School
  • Gracious Professionalism Award (sponsored by Johnson & Johnson): The Kauai Bots (#2465), Kauai
  • Team Spirit Award (sponsored by Chrysler): The Cool Geeks (#2348), Moanalua High School
  • Coopertition Award: The MechaMoncarchs (#2896), Damien School
  • Judge's Award: The Green Label Zealots (#1378), Hilo High School
  • Rookie All Star Award: TAS Robotics (#4253), Taipei
  • Highest Rookie Seed Award: Crders (#4270), Saint Louis School
  • Safety Advisor Team: Searider Robotics (#3685), Waianae High School
  • Engineering Inspiration Award: Kealakehe High School Robo Riders (#3880), Kona
  • FIRST Dean's List Finalist (sponsored by BAE Systems): Michael Nelson (#2460, Kohala High), Ryan Matsumoto (#2348, Moanalua High)
  • Regional Chairman's Award: The Falcons of Kalani High School (#3008)

For more information, visit hawaiiroc.org.

# # # #

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii