Pennsylvania FTC Championship

The Judges Choice Award is given at the discretion of the Judges to a team they have encountered whose unique efforts, performance or dynamics merit recognition, yet the team does not fit into any of the existing award categories.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

The judges were impressed by the team's willingness to learn from their mistakes. These ladies' friendship and patience with each other ensure that no relationship breaks. They built critical thinking skills when their HASHTAG Lazy Mentor embraced their mistakes. The winner of the So Much More than a Robot Award goes to team 24082, Cyber JEMS.

The Compass Award recognizes an adult coach or mentor who provided outstanding guidance and support for a FIRST Tech Challenge team throughout the year. The winner of the Compass Award is determined from candidates, via a submitted student video, highlighting how their mentor has helped them become an outstanding team and has truly demonstrated what it means to be a Gracious Professional.

The Design Award expands on this year's challenge, inspiring teams to incorporate industrial design into their robots. These elements can be shown in the simplicity of the design as it applies to the tasks, the look and feel of the robot in how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team impressed the judges with intelligent design and clean aesthetics. With their differential intake wrist, they were easy to PICK UP out of the crowd. Their virtual four bar linkage led to a PURPLE RAIN of samples into the high basket.

The team that receives the Motivate Award celebrates the culture of FIRST and clearly shows what it means to be a team. This award celebrates the team that represents the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge competition through team building, team spirit, and displayed enthusiasm. This is a team who makes a collective effort to make FIRST known throughout their school, and community and sparks others to embrace the culture of FIRST.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team collaborated with both the local and international community through their various workshops to bring the mission of FIRST. This team is dedicated to inspiring young girls to become future STEM leaders and raised substantial funding for their outreach programs. As the team learned how to modify their outreach activities to suit multiple different audiences, their IMPACT BLOOMED like a LOTUS FLOWER.

The Control Award celebrates the team that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, enhancing mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the field.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team used several control schemes and automations to improve their performance in their matches. Their BESPOKE vector navigation library allowed them to efficiently pilot their robot on the field. Their FINE MOTOR CONTROL sets them apart from their NEUROLOGICAL peers.

The Innovate Award sponsored by RTX celebrates a team that has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. This award is given to the team that the Judges feel has the most innovative and creative robot design solution to this season's game. Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness and 'out of the box' thinking. This award may address the design of the whole robot or some sub-assembly component. The creative component needs to work consistently.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team wowed the judges with their innovative approach to this year's game. Rapidly delivering samples, their unique lift system allowed them to SHIFT GEAR into end game for a consistent hang. Take your time when looking at their robot, there is a lot to UNBOX.

The Connect Award is presented to the team that the Judges feel most connected with their local Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) community. A true FIRST team recognizes that engaging their local STEM community plays an essential part in their success. The recipient of this award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team impressed the judges with their extensive engineering connections and detailed skill development plan. They used their connections to help develop their robot over the course of the season, incorporating the feedback they received from multiple design reviews. Quoting the philosophy of Woodie Flowers that the best way to learn is through doing, failing, and learning, this team NEARED THE LIMIT in building strong foundations in their team members.

The Think Award is given to the team that the Judges feel best reflects the journey of the engineering design process. The engineering portfolio is the key reference for Judges to help them identify the most deserving team. This team's engineering portfolio focused on the design and build stages of the team's robot and exemplified their journey as a team and engineers.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This page turner of a portfolio documented the journey of this powerful team with precision. As a young, unstoppable team, they showcased their season, including A LOT of failures that allowed them to GROW. This PINK team has the DNA to spark curiosity and promote FIRST in all environments.

The Inspire Award is presented to the team that the Judges felt truly embodied the 'challenge' of the FIRST Tech Challenge program. The team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and works to promote FIRST and make it loud in their community. The team that receives this award has performed well in all Judging categories and was chosen by the Judges as a model FIRST Tech Challenge team both on and off the playing field. This team shares their experiences, enthusiasm and knowledge with other teams, sponsors, their community, and the Judges. Working as a unit, this team will have shown success in performing the task of designing and building a robot.

Here is what the judges had to say about the winner:

This team impressed the judges with their all-around efforts both on and off the field. They clearly communicated their design solutions that dominated this competition. This ARGENTATE CANINE ASSEMBLAGE team is a TRIPLET threat.