Three FIRST Nevada high school robotics teams made it to the big stage at the FIRST national championship in Houston this month, and Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS) President Mark W. Martinez was there to cheer them on.
The FIRST Robotics Competition consisted of teams of 25 students who built and programmed a robot to perform prescribed tasks against its competitors. The competition provides students real-world engineering experience in a competitive setting.
MSTS—the management and operating contractor for the Nevada National Security Site—supported the Nevada teams’ bids for the national championship, providing funds to assist with their travel, accommodation and meal costs. Participating teams from Las Vegas hailed from Cimarron-Memorial High School, Desert Oasis High School (pictured below) and Northwest Career and Technical Academy. Desert Oasis High School’s team, the Cyber Vipers, won the Rookie Inspiration Award.
“These students are future innovators and some will shape what happens at the NNSS and across the entire National Security Enterprise,” said Martinez. “By giving them the opportunity at a young age to be exposed to STEM activities, demonstrations and competitions, it shows them the future they could have. For now, it’s their hobby but soon enough, they will have the opportunity to turn that hobby into their career.”
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Nevada is a non-profit organization promoting FIRST robotics programs and STEAM education initiatives throughout Nevada.