CHS Robotics Team Wins Local FIRST Tech Challenge Tournament

The Radical Raiders robotics team at the Collegiate High School (CHS) at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) placed first in the FIRST Tech Challenge’s FL AeroCoast League Tournament.
The CHS Radical Raiders competed against eight teams from the panhandle area at Northwood Elementary School for a spot in the statewide competition. After spending hundreds of hours on creating and programming its robot, crafting its engineering notebook, and participating in community outreach events, the team’s efforts culminated in its successful showing on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The team earned placed first among the competition and earned the Inspire Award for best embodying the challenge of the program. This award is given to teams that inspire others, act as positive ambassadors of FIRST programs, and maintain professionalism in all aspects. The team also received the second-place Alliance Captain award in the game competition.

The Radical Raiders will now advance to the Florida Championship on March 3 and 4, 2023, in Winter Haven, FL. The team will compete against 55 other teams from across the state for a chance to compete at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas in April.

“I am immensely proud of our Radical Raiders who represented our institution’s standard of excellence at the AeroCoast League Tournament,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “I look forward to these students showcasing the prowess of Northwest Florida State College at the state level and beyond.”

The FIRST Tech Challenge is an international program where teams of up to 15 participants in seventh through 12th grade are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head, alliance-format challenge. 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.