GSSI's OOPS! Robotics Selected as Connect Award Finalist at FIRST Tech Challenge State Tournament

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' OOPS! Robotics was selected as the Connect Award 3rd place finalist at  the the FIRST Tech Challenge Illinois State Tournament on Feb. 24-25 at Elgin Community College. 

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, in an alliance format against other teams. Teams design, build and program their robot using a variety of programming languages and sound engineering principles, then plan strategies for competition. Awards are given for competitive performance as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

The Connect Award is presented to the team that most connects with their local STEM community. To win, a team must submit an engineering notebook with a strategic plan which highlights the team's goals and the steps they will take to reach those goals.  The team must also provide clear examples of the connections they have been developing within engineering, science and technology communities. 

Oops! Robotics is coached by Kristi Smith and Mary Buchanan of O'Fallon and consists of middle and high school girls from Belleville, Granite City and O'Fallon.  Team members are Katherine Buchanan, Mary Buchanan, Mackenzie Butchee, Allie Huller, Kimberly Melton, Chloe Schlosser,  Kailee Schlosser, Amber Smith, Leah Walton, Allison Zaiz and Megan Zaiz. 

OOPS! Robotics Wins Motivate Award, Qualifies for State Tournament

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois robotics team, OOPS! Robotics, won the Connect Award and was a finalist for the Motivate Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge regional qualifying tournament at Decatur Hope Academy on Feb. 11.  The team also advanced to the FTC Illinois State tournament, which will be held Feb. 24-25 at Elgin Community College Spartan Events Center.  

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, in an alliance format against other teams. Teams design, build and program their robot using a variety of programming languages and sound engineering principles, then plan strategies for competition. Awards are given for competitive performance as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

The Connect Award is presented to the team that most connects with their local STEM community. To win, a team must submit an engineering notebook with a strategic plan which highlights the team's goals and the steps they will take to reach those goals.  The team must also provide clear examples of the connections they have been developing within engineering, science and technology communities. 

The Motivate Award is given to the team that best exemplifies the essence of FTC competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.  The team must demonstrate respect and gracious professionalism throughout the tournament and be able to articulate the individual contributions of each team member.

In addition to their achievements at the Decatur regional, OOPS! Robotics also qualified for the Missouri State Tournament earlier this season.  That tournament will be held March 4 at Missouri S&T University in Rolla. 

Oops! Robotics is coached by Kristi Smith and Mary Buchanan of O'Fallon and consists of middle and high school girls from Belleville, Granite City and O'Fallon.  Team members are Katherine Buchanan, Mary Buchanan, Mackenzie Butchee, Allie Huller, Kimberly Melton, Chloe Schlosser,  Kailee Schlosser, Amber Smith, Leah Walton, Allison Zaiz and Megan Zaiz. 

OOPS! Robotics receives funding from Afton Chemical, Christone Enterrpises, Best Buy, Boeing,  The Monsanto Fund and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming is an important component of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  GSSI provides girls of all age levels with the opportunity to participate in engaging STEM activities that include writing code, wiring circuits, conducting physics and chemistry experiments and more.  The organization is always looking for community and business partners to help girls gain exposure to and experience with these growing fields. For more information, please contact Program Manager Emily Stanley at 800.345.6858, ext. 1111 or estanley@gsofsi.org. 

GSSI's OOPS! Robotics to Compete in Illinois and Missouri FIRST Tech Challenge State Tournaments

After a stellar season, GSSI FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team OOPS! Robotics is preparing to compete at the most elite level in two states.  

On Feb. 26, the team will travel to Elgin Community College for the FTC Illinois State Championship and on March 5, they will compete at the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla in the FTC Missouri State Tournament. 

OOPS! has earned many honors this season:

At the Feb. 13 tournament in Ballwin, they won the Think Award and got third place for the Inspire Award.

At the Feb. 6 tournament in Decatur, they won the Think Award, got second place in the Inspire Award and were finalists for the Connect, Design and Motivate Awards.

At the Jan. 30 tournament in Carbondale they won the Connect Award and were finalists for the Think Award.

At the Jan. 9 tournament in St. Louis, they were selected for the robot game finals and won the Motivate Award. They were runners up for the Connect Award, Think Award and Inspire Award, and came in third for the Design Award.

GSSI receives funding from AT&T, the Monsanto Fund and  United Way to advance STEM programs for girls in southern Illinois.

Oops! Robotics Has Successful January

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge team, Oops! Robotics is off to a great start in 2016!

During their first competition on Jan. 9 at Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, Mo, Oops! was selected for the robot game finals, won the Motivate Award and advanced to the Missouri State Championship! They were also runners up for the Connect Award, Think Award & Inspire Award (the highest FTC award) and got third place for the Design Award!

During their second competition on Jan. 30 at SIU Transportation Education Center in Carbondale, the team won the Connect Award and was a finalist for the Think Award.


Oops! has two more qualifying tournaments in February. Watch for more coverage! 

See more photos of Oops! Robotics

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Wins Motivate Award for Third Time!

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' flagship FIRST TECH Challenge Team, Oops! (because the World's Greatest Inventions Started with an 'oops!') won the Motivate Award during competition at Decatur Hope Academy on February 7.

 

Oops! is coached by Kristi Smith of O'Fallon and consists of middle and high school girls from O'Fallon, Granite City and Belleville.  They have won the Motivate Award, which is presented to that exemplifies the essence of the FTC competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm, during three consecutive tournaments.  

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

 

For more information about GSSI's Robotics Program, please contact STEM Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

 

 

 

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GSSI FIRST TECH Challenge Team Wins Motivate Award For Second Time

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' FIRST TECH Challenge Team, Oops!, won the Motivate Award at their competition on Jan. 31 at SIU Carbondale's Transportation Education Center on Jan. 31.   The team got their name "because the world's greatest inventions started with an oops!" The Motivate Award is awarded to the team that exemplifies the essence of the FTC competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Oops! competes again on Feb. 7 at Decatur Hope Academy.

 

OOPS! Robotics coached by Kristi Smith of O’Fallon consists of middle and high school girls from O’Fallon, Granite City and Belleville.

Follow Oops! Robotics on their blog: http://oopsrobotics.wordpress.com/

 

To learn more about GSSI's robotics program, please contact STEM Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchana@gsofsi.org.

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Wins Motivate Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' FIRST TECH Challenge Team, Oops!,won the Motivate Award at their first competition on Jan. 10 at Meramac Community College in St. Louis  The team got their name "because the world's greatest inventions started with an oops!" The Motivate Award is awarded ...to the team that exemplifies the essence of the FTC competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Oops! competes again on Jan. 31 at SIU Carbondale’s Transportation Education Center.

 

To learn more about GSSI's robotics program, please contact STEM Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchana@gsofsi.org.

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Starting Competition

 

 

 

GSSI’s flagship FIRST TECH Challenge team is ready to launch. OOPS! Robotics coached by Kristi Smith of O’Fallon consists of middle and high school girls from O’Fallon, Granite City and Belleville. They will compete in several qualifier tournaments this winter. Stop by and cheer them on at their competitions at Meramac Community College in St. Louis on Jan. 10, SIU Carbondale’s Transportation Education Center on Jan. 31 and Decatur Hope Academy on Feb. 7.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Follow Oops! Robotics on their blog: http://oopsrobotics.wordpress.com/