Ballston Spa High School’s OxBe4 robotics team.
The Ballston Spa High School First Robotics Competition Team 3044 – OxBE4 — was recently recognized by the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) at its virtual awards showcase with three awards from the New York Tech Valley Regional Competition.
The team was recognized with the Chairman’s Award, the highest honor given during the FIRST Robotics Competition season. The award recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. Activities that helped the team achieve this award include developing STEM kits for students in Afghanistan, working to develop a robotics program for fourth grade classes and hosting STEM Exploration Nights.
Junior team member Shelby Whitney was recognized as one of two Dean’s List Finalist, which recognizes the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s secondary school students. During this past year, Whitney was a mentor with two robotics teams in the elementary schools and created the teams chairman’s video used to build robots.
Club advisor and team mentor Patricia Haskell was recognized with the Woodie Flower’s Award that celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design. It also recognizes an individual who has done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging the students to be clear and succinct in their communications. Haskell has been a contributor to the team for ten years and an integral mentor during the last three.
More information can be found on the team’s website at https:// frcteam3044.team/ or by visiting the FIRST Robotics website at https:// firstinspires.org.