MISSISSIPPI FIRST TECH CHALLENGE PROGRAM
The Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi is proud to be the program partner for the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics program for the last 10 years and beyond. We are a statewide community focused on building a better world for tomorrow by engaging students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while they design, build, and compete with robots in an annual challenge. FIRST Tech Challenge teaches students in grades 7-12 the value of hard work, innovation, creativity, and teamwork.
➾ 2022-2023 SEASON
FIRST® ENERGIZESM presented by Qualcomm is our energy-related themed competition session for 2022-2023. From the machines that move us to the wireless technologies that connect us, how we grow our food to how we build, and illuminate the places we call home, energy is the essential resource that keeps the world running.
Each time we plug in, fuel up, turn a key, flip a switch, or press a button to make something go, we’re using energy that’s delivered to us in many different ways.
As the world becomes increasingly connected, this is the moment for us to get energized about innovation. Together, with bold thinking and limitless collaboration, we have the power to reimagine the future of energy at any level, to power any idea or innovation we can imagine. What you challenge yourself to create will energize you, our FIRST community, and maybe even the world.
Every great step forward in our society has been fueled by a source of energy. Every brilliant invention has been sparked by these resources. Steam. Oil. Gas. Water. Wind. Solar. Nuclear. We’re constantly finding new ways to generate the energy we need, keeping the wheels of innovation, manufacturing, and progress spinning ever faster. Today we have an ever-increasing imperative –and collective responsibility –for improving environmental sustainability.
FIRST Tech Challenge teams will build robots to compete against time and each other to see who can ignite new ways to power on through these challenges. Welcome to…
2022 –2023 Schedule of Events
May 19, 2022 – FIRST Registration opens – online
September 10, 2022 – FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff event – TBA
Build Season on Scrimmages: September 2022 – November 2022
Qualifying Tournaments: December 2022 – February 2023
Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship: March 3-4, 2023
FIRST World Championships: April 2023 – Houston, TX
The Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship tournament was held on March 4-5 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Here are the results from the 2021-2022 FREIGHT FRENZY Season:
| Award | Team |
|---|---|
| Inspire Award | Winner: #8651 –Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS) Finalist: #6302 –Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS) |
| Winning Alliance | Captain: #14236 –Slight Malfunction (Wesson Community Group, Wesson, MS) 1st Pick: #6273 –Technocats (Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Bogue Chitto, MS) |
| Finalist Alliance | Captain: #14799 –LCS Javawocky (Laurel Christian School, Laurel, MS) 1st Pick: #20217 –Surge (West Harrison Middle School, Gulfport, MS) |
| Think Award | Winner: #14799 –LCS Javawocky (Laurel Christian School, Laurel, MS) Finalist: #3486 –Techno Warriors Advanced (Central Mississippi Robotics, Brandon, MS) |
| Connect Award | Winner: #6302 –Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS) Finalist: #7802 –Challenge Accepted (Northwest MS Robotics, Senatobia, MS) |
| Innovate Award by Raytheon Technologies | Winner: #8803 –East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) Finalist: #20217 –Surge (West Harrison Middle School, Gulfport, MS) |
| Control Award presented by ARM, Inc. | Winner: #7802 –Challenge Accepted (Northwest MS Robotics, Senatobia, MS) Finalist: #8803 –East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS) |
| Motivate Award | Winner: #3486 –Techno Warriors Advanced (Central Mississippi Robotics, Brandon, MS) Finalist: #6556 –Tempest(St. Patrick’s Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS) |
| Design Award | Winner: #14236 –Slight Malfunction (Wesson Community Group, Wesson, MS) Finalist: #8651 –Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS) |
| Judge’s Award | Winner: #11279–Pure Imagination(Grenada High School, Grenada, MS) |
| Promote Award | #7802 –Challenge Accepted (Northwest MS Robotics, Senatobia, MS) |
| Compass Award | Allison Hariel #8651 –Wait For It…, Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS |
| Courage Award in memory of Dawn Lyles | Jeff Lanum #3486 –Techno Warriors Advanced -Central Mississippi Robotics, Brandon, MS |
| Volunteer of the Year Award | Brandon Boyd Head Referee –Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge |
| Program Delivery Partner’s Award | Dr. John O’Haver: Professor Emeritus, University of Mississippi |
| Dean’s List Finalists | #1: Bella L., #14799–LCS Javawocky Finalist #2: Leah O., #11279–Pure Imagination Finalist #3: Joe T., #6302 -Odyssey |
Two teams represented Mississippi at the FIRST Championships in Houston on April 20-23, 2022. Team #8651 –Wait For It… and Team #14236 –Slight Malfunction as well as the three Dean’s List Finalists listed above. Team #8651 won the Promote Award for the best one-minute video that answered the question: “If there was one thing I would tell my younger self about FIRST it would be…”
For additional information, please contact:
Center for Mathematics and Science Education
The University of Mississippi
1111 Jackson Avenue W., Suite Q
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677
Phone: (662) 915-6621
Fax: (662) 915-1762
Email: first@olemiss.edu
➾ What is FIRST Tech Challenge?
It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!”
Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for over $80M in college scholarships throughout the country.
Find out more information at http://www.firstinspires.org/ftc.
➾ Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved with the Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge program. Individuals can power tomorrow’s future by mentoring teams, volunteering at tournaments, or joining committees to help organize events.
FIRST Tech Challenge is supported by a growing network of sponsors that provide funding, mentorship, time, talent, equipment, and more. We share the same neighborhoods, challenges, and dreams for our future. FIRST Tech Challenge is privileged to have the support of some of the most respected organizations in the world.
Together we build the future!
