Charger Robotics Earns Its Highest Regional Placement

Hamilton High School's Charger Robotics Team took third place among 60 teams at the FIRST regional competition March 31 – April 3 at the University of Minnesota. It was the best regional placement in the team’s history.

In addition, Charger Robotics was presented with the Gracious Professionalism Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, which celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and gracious professionalism in the heat of competition on and off the playing field. The award is given to teams that produce high quality work, value the contributions of others and show respect for individuals and the community. The Hamilton team will be part of a FIRST Robotics documentary that is being produced by a Milwaukee School of Engineering student.

At a previous Wisconsin regional competition, the Charger team qualified for Championship competition by earning the Engineering Inspiration Award which celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers in school and community. The award is based on the team’s efforts and measurable success in recruiting students to engineering and its community outreach. It is the second highest team award FIRST bestows.

Some 55 Hamilton students are involved in Charger Robotics, which is supported by QuadTech, Rockwell Automation and GE Volunteers through financial donations and employee mentors. The team is advised by Hamilton teacher Lori Hinytz and co-advised by Kari Woods.

Hinytz said the team’s key goals remain the same – a commitment to gracious professionalism and an emphasis on learning, helping one another and inspiring careers in math, science, engineering and technology.

FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – was founded in 1989 by Inventor Dean Kamen to encourage students to consider careers in science and technology. In celebration of 20 years of Robotics Competitions, FIRST introduced a new game, Logo Motion, in this year’s contests. This season, more than 2,000 teams participated in nearly 60 regional competitions. The Charger team will be among the 350 teams that will compete in the national championship to be held April 27-30 in St. Louis.