Led by de facto captain Emma Shan, Kent School’s Prometheus 2785 Robotics Team was recently revived by a group of Kent students driven by a passion for robotics. Their supervisor, Mx. Zucca, of the Math Department, competed in FIRST Robotics Competitions (FRC) in high school and brings invaluable experience to this newly-revived team.

For this team, motivation comes purely from passion. Although new to FRC, William Wang managed the team’s coding and demonstrated this dedication and eagerness to learn by successfully commanding the robot during the team’s inaugural game.

FRC games are famous for being intense and competitive. Each game consists of two alliances of three teams competing on a huge field. For rookie teams, this environment can easily be overwhelming. However, Kent students quickly experienced FIRST’s ethos of gracious professionalism at their first game in Waterbury, Connecticut. While setting up their pit, a mentor from a competing team stepped in to help them.

This hands-on experience also has a profoundly positive impact on STEM learning. Students get to “experiment and reinforce the concepts learned in class,” Mx. Zucca notes, while turning theoretical knowledge into “confidence and knowledge base needed for constructing the robot.”

Looking to the future, the team already has a clear roadmap. Engineering-wise, they are aiming to experiment with different types of motors to enhance the robot’s performance. On the business and operational side, the team is actively seeking outside sponsorships to expand its budget. Ultimately, the team strives to reach a grander stage and achieve even more outstanding results.

Mx. Zucca has a reassuring message to all students who are pondering whether they should join: “Everyone in FIRST wants you in FIRST.” You don’t need to be a master of coding or have proficient engineering skills– the team will teach you. All you really need is a little curiosity and a willingness to learn.