The GVHS Robotics team started their day at 5:30 AM on Saturday, January 17th, as they headed to the FTC South Central PA Qualifier at York Country Day School. After a grueling 15-hour day of competition (and a battle for seniors scraping ice off windshields at 8:30 PM), they returned home with an incredible awards!

Awards:

• Design Award (Winner): This award celebrates a robot that is both functional and aesthetic. The judges were specifically impressed with our industrial design elements, including our custom laser-cut wooden flames, which gave our bot a unique, high-energy look while maintaining top-tier performance.
• Reach Award (Winner): This recognizes the team that best represents the spirit of FIRST and makes a huge impact in their community. Our bi-weekly Krispy Kreme fundraisers and extensive community outreach helped us stand out as a team that truly motivates others to get involved in STEM.
• Finalist Alliance Captain: After a series of intense matches, we earned the honor of being an Alliance Captain for the finals. We partnered with the phenomenal Team 9424, the Gearhounds, and together we fought our way to the finalist alliance trophy!

We keeping the momentum going as we make adjustments to our robot and code to prepare for the Eastern PA Qualifier on Valentine’s Day (Feb 14th). We’ve got a lot of "robot love" to give before the next round!

If you want to catch the team in action, follow us on Instagram: @gvhs_robotics.