Apple Pi robotics, Team 2067, along with alliance partners Mechanical Mayhem, Team 1519, Milford, New Hampshire, and Cyber Knights, Team 195, Southington, won the New England FIRST District Championship sponsored by United Technologies. Apple Pi is a 4H-sponsored high school robotics team representing students from Guilford, Madison, Branford, and Northford.

Culminating an intense month of qualifying events in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, Worcester Polytechnic Institute hosted 60 FIRST Robotics Competition teams in the final district event of the NEFIRST season. After three days of intense competition at the New England District Championship, alliance partners Apple Pi, Mechanical Mayhem, and Cyber Knights won the New England FIRST Championship and will be three of the 35 teams that will represent New England at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis.

Apple Pi and its 50-plus team members from Guiford, Madison, Branford, and Northford have been working intensely since Jan. 3 to design, build, program, and test their 119-pound robot to play this year’s FRC game, RECYCLE RUSH. The recycling-themed game is played by two Alliances of three robots each. Robots score points by stacking shipping totes on scoring platforms on their side of the field, topping those stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of litter, represented by pool noodles.

In addition to winning the District Championship, Apple Pi won the sought-after District Engineering Inspiration Award. This award celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary. You often see Apple Pi students presenting at local schools, libraries, town events, fairs, and mentoring of junior FIRST robotics teams. Apple Pi students’ passion for STEM and willingness to share their knowledge has lead them to this wonderful award.

Team co-captain and junior at Guilford High School Sean Hackett won the Dean’s List Finalist Award and will move on to St. Louis where he will compete with other finalists at the FIRST World Competition. This award celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary. Hackett’s passion can be seen on and off the field, and as a result he is a student that all team members and leaders rely on.

Check out the 2015 FRC game, RECYCLE RUSH, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTyCIYZQ_1s, or visit http://nefirst.org for more information.