This marks the second year for Team No. 2165 to compete in the FIRST Robotics competition after coming off a stellar season last year.  The team participated in the 2007 Greater Kansas City Regional Competition, and was named the Rookie All Star Team and qualified for FIRST Robotics International Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.  The team took their Big Blue Robot to the semi quarter qualifying round.

Tri County Team 2165 received funding from both NASA and the American Electric Power Company for the competition.

The Robotics team received the NASA Program Growth Grant of $6,000 to compete in the regional FIRST Robotics Competition.  NASA awarded 40 program growth grants to second and third year teams in the United States for the 2008 season. 

Tri County was the only Oklahoma team to receive this grant.  The grant provided financing for registration costs and for the team to build a robot for competition in one regional FIRST event.

The American Electric Power FIRST Robotics program partnership provided $1,950 to Tri County Team 2165.  The AEP partnership supports FIRST to enable students to use their minds to accomplish a task while building interest and skills in science, math and technology. 

AEP encourages schools throughout their 11 state service territory to become involved by supporting teams with seed money.  This short-term grant helps students start their local fundraising activities.  Tri County's "seed money" was used to purchase parts and equipment.

This year, Tri County Technology Center Team 2165, will compete in Oklahoma City.  Oklahoma City will host one of the qualifying events for the first time, as part of the state’s effort to meet Oklahoma’s growing needs for a workforce with mathematics and science skills.  More than 3,000 competitors are expected to participate in the regional event March 20 – 22 at the Cox Business Services Convention Center.

Tri County’s team has four returning members from the 2007 team, Mark Bellmyer; Erin Rose Briggs; Cody Dickson; and John Sloan.  The remaining team members for 2008 are: Amanda Cruce, Allen Hicks, David Reeves, Andrew Willis, James Hills, and Seth Parker.   

Jesse Cruce and Jimmy Gose, 2007 team members and now freshman at college, will be returning to help the 2008 team in Oklahoma City.  Jesse attends the University of Oklahoma, while Jimmy is at the University of Missouri-Rolla.  Both are studying engineering.

Team sponsors include Pre-Engineering instructors, Kendall Baker, Angela Barnes, and Brenda Irving, as well as, TCTC Counselor, Mary Boatman.

The volunteer mentors are an integral part of the success of the team.  Mentors from the field of Engineering within the community include:  George Halkiades, Mark Dreiling, Don Lauffer, David Register, Nelson Stayton, and Gordon Stalings.

We wish the 2008 team the best of luck with Scarab!