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P.K. Yonge Robotics Team Wins Engineering Inspiration Award and NASA Sponsorship

(Gainesville, FL) – The P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School Roaring Riptide robotics team earned the prestigious FIRST Regional Engineering Inspiration Award at the 2024  FIRST® Robotics Tallahassee Regional Competition and a NASA sponsored registration to the World Championship Competition. 

The Engineering Inspiration Award acknowledges a team’s extraordinary efforts to foster enthusiasm and engagement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) among young people. Roaring Riptide stood out for their innovative outreach initiatives, dedication to mentorship, and commitment to diversity and inclusion in STEAM. The team competed against 44 teams from five states.

Roaring Riptide’s outreach efforts have reached beyond the confines of their team, extending into schools, community centers, and outreach events where they have sparked curiosity and passion for STEAM fields among young minds. Through interactive workshops, demonstrations, and mentorship programs, they have played a pivotal role in nurturing the talents of future engineers, scientists, designers, healthcare specialists, and leaders.

“As the Lifeguards of 4118, we use the problem solving skills gained from FIRST to enact change in our community with our local, state, and national outreach efforts. Our #FIRSTwithAT initiative is where our heart is, which is where we design and develop Assistive Technology solutions to improve the quality of life and increase accessibility for people with disabilities. When we’re able to adapt and deliver toys to kids in our community, we see the look of wonder and excitement in their eyes when they are finally able to play with a toy that’s accessible to them. We’re a high school robotics team that builds robots, but the most important thing to us is that FIRST is so much MORE than robots,” Joseph Santiago, P.K. Yonge junior and Roaring Riptide team lead. 

Roaring Riptide will compete at the  2024  FIRST® Robotics World Championship Competition in Houston, Texas April 17-20.

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About P.K. Yonge FRC Team 4118: Roaring Riptide

For more information about FRC Team 4118: Roaring Riptide or to support their efforts at the World Championship, with their robot EnsemBill, visit their website: roaringriptide.com or follow them on Facebook, X, & Instagram @frcriptide4118 or contact them at frcriptide4118@pky.ufl.edu

About FIRST®

It’s called FIRST Robotics where teams of high school students are challenged to build industrial-size robots to play a game in an alliance with other teams. Students learn to fundraise to meet their goals, write grants, design a team “brand” and identity, and advance respect and appreciation for science, technology, math and engineering, STEM, within their local community.

The program’s goal is to build a culture where scientists and engineers are as celebrated as athletes. Industry professionals and other community members mentor the teams, along with the lead coaches with the hope of inspiring generations of young people to dream big about what they could accomplish in STEM.

For more information about FIRST and the Engineering Inspiration Award, please visit www.firstinspires.org.