High school team headed for competition in robotics

Robotics team members from Baldwin High School, Island Pacific Academy, Kealakehe High, Kohala High and Wai­alua High will represent Hawaii at the 2012 FIRST Championship April 25-28 in St. Louis.

After three rounds in the finals of the 2012 FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition last weekend, the Red Alliance composed of robotics students from Wai­alua, Baldwin on Maui and Island Pacific Academy outscored the Blue Alliance made up of students from Punahou School, West Hawaii Exploratory Academy and McKinley High School with a score of 48-41.

The competition ran from Thursday to Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center, where 38 high school student teams competed to earn a spot on Hawaii’s team that will compete in the nationals.

This year’s game, "Robot Rumble," had robots participating in a basketball-style contest where teams had two corner and two center goals to throw balls into.

There were 36 teams from Hawaii high schools, one team from Taiwan and one from New Orleans participating.

The Hawaii robotics competition is sponsored by BAE Systems.

Several high school teams were honored:

» Industrial Design Award (sponsored by General Motors) — Waiakea High

» Quality Award (sponsored by Motorola) — Waialua High

» Gracious Professionalism Award (sponsored by Johnson & Johnson) — Kauai High

» Team Spirit Award (sponsored by Chrysler) — Moanalua High

» Coopertition Award — Damien Memorial School

» Judge’s Award — Hilo High

» Rookie All Star Award — Taipei

» Highest Rookie Seed Award — Saint Louis School

» Safety Advisor Team — Waianae High

» Engineering Inspiration Award — Kealakehe High

» FIRST Dean’s List Finalist (sponsored by BAE Systems) — Michael Nelson, Kohala High; and Ryan Matsumoto, Moanalua High

» Regional Chairman’s Award — Kalani High