Critical Mass Robotics Team Wraps Up Successful Season

On February 11, Critical Mass traveled to Vermont for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Vermont State Championship. At this competition, Critical Mass placed 4th out of 32 teams in the qualification matches, moving on to the final round. After forming an alliance with two other teams, Critical Mass and their alliance partners won the finals and were crowned the champions.

Critical Mass also participated in the Northeast New Jersey League Championship. At this meet, the team ranked first out of 26 teams during the qualification matches and went on to become the finalist alliance captain. The team also won two awards: the Connect Award (1st place) and the Inspire Award (3rd place). The Connect Award is given to the team that engages in the STEM community, and the Inspire Award, the most prestigious award at an FTC competition, is given to a team who shows overall excellence and acts as an ambassador for FIRST / FTC (First Tech Challenge). 

The team was also busy with outreach activities with the D-E community and with other Robotics Teams from neighboring schools. Critical Mass visited D-E's Lower School to give a demonstration on robots and to share their experience as a team. Critical Mass also hosted a meet-and-greet with the Pascack Pi-oneers, a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team - sharing ideas and information regarding the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).

More information on the team's outstanding performance can be read on Critical Mass' Newsletter: click here to view, or go to http://usnews.d-e.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Newsletter-1.1.pdf