We are thrilled to share some exciting news about the incredible accomplishments of our robotics teams this season! Our students at all levels have demonstrated outstanding skill, teamwork, determination, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. We had 87 students come through the program at some point this season, with a core group of 38 (18 competition and 20 non-competition). We practiced coding, built mechanical models with Legos, and had our first-ever Battle Bots Challenge during optional 2 hour practices 4 days per week.
This year, we had three teams enter competitions, and their hard work truly paid off:
Lightning Strikes Twice
Regional Qualifier Results:
1st Place in the Robot Game (out of 40 teams)
1st Place Champions (overall competition winners!)
Invited to States on December 7 in Denver
State Championship Results:
2nd Place Champions (2nd place overall for the entire state tournament)
Invited to the FIRST Worlds Championship, where they’ll compete against the top teams from across the United States and over 60 countries!
Team Members: Nicco DiMaria, Tamir Finesliver, Sam Gilmore, Ember LaPenna, Loreili LaPenna, and Hailey Ward
Steep 'n Deep
Regional Qualifier Results:
4th Place in the Robot Game (out of 40 teams)
Judges Award for their hard work, core values, and talent as a first-year team
Team Members: Isla Gilmore, Beck Dorr, Felix Garfield, Evelyn Van Arsdale
Poached Gears
Regional Qualifier Results:
2nd Place Core Values Award
Team Members: Teodora Milinovic, Sunny Guthre, Liam Daniels, Annabella Maupin, Finn Zubrod, Marcel Miracle, Macsen Hembury
These accomplishments are a testament to the creativity, dedication, and teamwork of our students, as well as the support from our incredible community.
Looking Ahead
While we celebrate this season’s successes, we also want to let you know that due to limited staffing and a team continuing to the FIRST Worlds Championship, we are unable to continue the afterschool robotics program until the next FIRST LEGO League season (next school year). We understand this may be disappointing, but we encourage students to keep their skills sharp by exploring coding and robotics activities at home!
Here are some fantastic free resources for students to continue learning:
Scratch: A platform for creating interactive stories, games, and animations. Students can explore Scratch Sprites to design their own characters and projects.
Code.org: Beginner-friendly coding lessons, puzzles, and games that teach programming concepts step by step.
Tynker: Offers fun coding games and projects for kids to explore, with many free beginner lessons.
Khan Academy – Computer Programming: Tutorials on JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and more, for students ready to expand their coding skills.
Blockly Games: Educational games introducing coding concepts in a simple, visual way.
Hour of Code: Short, engaging coding activities designed for beginners.
We encourage students to take advantage of these tools to continue exploring their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our robotics teams and programs. Your encouragement makes all the difference!
Best regards,
George Helfenstine (he/him)
MYP Year 2 Sciences Teacher, Aspen Middle School
Middle School Robotics Coach
