Coconino High School Robotics FRC Team 2486 The CocoNuts Flagstaff, AZ

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RE: COCONUTS ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF ARIZONA FIRST TECH CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP On February 21, 2015 the CocoNuts hosted 32 teams from around the southwest for the Arizona FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Tournament. The teams had qualified for the tournament at one of six previous qualifying tournaments. Teams traveled to Flagstaff from Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, all over Arizona and the country of Mexico. The FTC CASCADE EFFECT Game puts teams of 7 th -12 th graders in alliances of two teams each. Teams score points by placing 160 white plastic balls (40 large and 120 small) into rolling goals that are 30 cm, 60 cm, and 90 cm tall. The game play features a 30-second autonomous period in which robots can score points under pre-programmed instructions and a 2-minute driver controlled period in which teams control their robots using game controllers. Teams can score bonus points during the 30-second endgame by moving robots and goals onto a ramp or by scoring balls in the Center Goal. The results and pictures are included. The CocoNuts played host to a number of VIPs during the event, including: Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours NAU Provost Laura Huenneke FUSD Superintendent Barbara Hickman NAU STEM City Coordinator Mindy Bell Flagstaff 40 President Dave Engelthaler District 6 Representative Bob Thorpe Coconino High School Administrators Stacie Zanzucchi, Cris Holmes, and Steve Bonderud Rep. Thorpe volunteered as a judge for the whole day. Rep. Thorpe first visited CHS as part of the Take Your Legislator to School Day statewide initiative organized by the Arizona Educational Foundation, Rodel, and the AZ K-12 Center, and the Arizona Education Association. Rep. Thorpe thoroughly enjoyed the day interacting with students, volunteers, and coaches, and is excited to partner with the CocoNuts to bring FIRST robotics to more schools in Arizona. Five teams advanced to the FIRST Tech Challenge Western Super Regional Championship in Oakland, CA March 27-29, The advancing teams are: 4790 Area 52 Robotics Henderson, NV 2844 Valley X Chandler, AZ 8640 Trojan Robotics Chandler, AZ 201 Brophy Broncobotics Phoenix, AZ 6312 Golden Tigers El Paso, TX

2 The award winners are: Award Team # Team Name Organization Hometown Outstanding Volunteers Susan Garduno Rich Gomez FIRST VISTA AZ FTC Head Referee Flagstaff, AZ Judges Award 201 BroncoBotics Brophy College Prep Phoenix, AZ Compass Award 5132 AHERT Ravens Albuquerque Homeschool Albuquerque, NM Promote Award 5661 Wolves Estrella Foothills High School Goodyear, AZ Control Award 4314 Aerosquadron Highland High School Gilbert, AZ Motivate Award 6471 Panthers Paragon Science Academy Chandler, AZ PTC Design Award 8640 Trojan Robotics Valley Christian High School Chandler, AZ Rockwell Collins Innovate Award 6515 RoboTiger Beta Harmony School of Innovation El Paso, TX Connect Award 6174 Odyssey Odyssey Institute of Buckeye, AZ Automatons Advanced International Studies Think Award 6312 Golden Tigers Harmony School of El Paso, TX Innovation Finalist Alliance 4790 Area 52 Neighborhood Team Henderson, NV Robotics 4314 Aerosquadron Highland High School Gilbert, AZ 5132 AHERT Ravens Albuquerque Homeschool Albuquerque, NM Winning Alliance 2844 Valley X Valley Christian High School Chandler, AZ 8640 Trojan Robotics Valley Christian High School Chandler, AZ 201 BroncoBotics Brophy College Prep Phoenix, AZ Dean s List Finalist Award 5661 Kamron Debelak Estrella Foothills High School Gilbert, AZ 8903 Alexis Tuggle Bioscience High School Phoenix, AZ Inspire Award Winner 4790 Area 52 Robotics Neighborhood Team Henderson, NV Figure 1: Representative Bob Thorpe cheers teams on during the Arizona FTC Championship Tournament at Coconino High School.

3 Figure 2: The Botrregos, Jr from Chihuahua, Mexico show their drive team some love in the stands. Figure 3: The AHERT Ravens from Albuquerque enjoy a dance break.

4 Figure 4: FTC Robot in action The CocoNuts will be traveling to Salt Lake City, UT and Chandler, AZ to compete in this year s FRC Game Recycle Rush. The CocoNuts are also partnering with Coconino County, Girl Scouts, and STEM City to host a free screening of Underwater Dreams. This documentary is the true story of the Carl Hayden High School Robotics team that beat MIT at an underwater robotics competition. Special guests include Fredi Lajavardi and Allan Cameron, coaches of the Carl Hayden Falcons. The showing is at 6:00 pm in the Coconino High School main auditorium on March 5. About the CocoNuts: The CocoNuts Robotics Team from Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Arizona, is the first robotics team of its kind in Northern Arizona. Since its founding in 2007, the CocoNuts have been the recipients of such prestigious awards as the Inspire Award, Engineering Inspiration Award and five-time winners of the Regional Chairman s Award. The CocoNuts spend countless hours working in their community to spread the excitement of FIRST Robotics, mentor many of the younger FIRST teams in Flagstaff and the surrounding areas, teach a robotics curriculum at the NAU Summer Enrichment Program, run a summer robotics program for younger students, and host the Northern Arizona FIRST Lego League and Arizona FIRST Tech Challenge Programs. Visit for more information and to get involved. GO NUTS!

5 About FIRST Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $14 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC ) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC ) for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League (FLL ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL ) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to Coaches: Christine Sapio Dave Thompson csapio@fusd1.org david.thompson@nau.edu x The CocoNuts are partners with: Flagstaff Unified School District #1 WL Gore and Associates Northern Arizona University Coconino High School The CocoNuts are proudly sponsored by: Northern Arizona FIRST Alliance Partners: Phoenix Analysis & Design Technologies APS/Phoenix Suns Mini Grant Northern Arizona FIRST Fanatics: GKC Geoscience LLC Mr. Steve Sanghi Friends of Northern Arizona s Future: AZ Superbowl Planning Committee STEM Superhero Awards Findlay Toyota Flagstaff And the generous and continuing support of the Flagstaff Community.