The Lightning Bots have developed a proud team history over the years. Here are some highlights of our rookie year leading up to the present season:
2006-2007 Year (Rookie Year)
- Summer 2006 – Champion Lightning Bots team was initiated by Mark Baka, Delphi Engineer and Michelle Roberts, Champion Schools Technology Coordinator.
- The game challenge was Rack & Roll and the name of our robot was “Silver Bolt”
- 15 Students signed up to participate on the team
- FUNDRAISERS
- Aluminum cans – team fundraiser
- Aluminum can tabs – to donate to Ronald McDonald House
- Used cell phones – to donate to “Phones4Life”
- Used eyeglasses – to donate to underprivileged children in Romania
- September 2006 – Robocats Team 379 invited Lightning Bots team members to attend a FIRST robotics demonstration at Kettering University.
- October 2006 – Several team members attended CAD and machining classes at Kent State University – Trumbull Campus.
- October 2006 – The team registered for ODOT “Adopt a Highway” program.
- November 2006 – The Image Team sent over 300 letters to local businesses describing the team and requesting donations.
- December 2006 – Design/Build Team members attended programming classes at Kent State University – Trumbull Campus.
- December 2006 – The team established several recycling programs
- March 2007 – A “Chinese Auction” was held as a team fundraiser.
- March 2007 – The first regional we attended was the Pittsburgh Regional competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- We won the “Rookie All-Star” award
- March 2007 – The second regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional competition in Cleveland, Ohio
- We won the “Highest Rookie Seed” award.
- April 2007 – We attended the FIRST National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia
2007-2008 Year:
- The game challenge was called Overdrive and our robot name was “The Flash”
- There were 19 students on the team
- The first regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 5-4-0
- We ranked 23rd
- Our second regional we attended was the SBPLI Regional in Long Island, New York
- We went 13-5-0
- We ranked 13th
- We won the 2008 SBPLI Regional
- We won the Underwriters Laboratory Industrial Safety Award. This award celebrates the team that progresses beyond fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards.
2008-2009 Year:
- The game challenge was Lunacy and our robot name was “Emanon”
- There were 20 students on the team
- The first regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 9-5-0
- We ranked 42nd
- We won the 2009 Buckeye Regional
- The second regional we attended was the SBPLI Regional in Long Island, New York
- We went 12-5-0
- We ranked 2nd
- We also mentored team 2901, The Rocket Sock Em’ Robots from Maplewood High School
- They had 10 students on the team
- The first regional they attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- They ranked 31st with a record of 4-4-0
- The second regional they attended was the Pittsburgh Regional in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- They ranked 14th
- They won the Rookie Inspiration Award. This award rookie teams outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering, and both within their school, as well as their communities.
2009-2010 Year:
- The game challenge was called Breakaway and our robot name was “Ish Cha”
- There were 19 students on the team
- The first regional we attended was the Washington D.C. regional in Washington D.C.
- We went 4-6-1
- We ranked 8th
- The second regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 7-5-0
- We also mentored team 2901, The Rocket Sock Em’ Robots from Maplewood High School
- They had 5 students on the team
- The first regional they attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- They finished with a record of 5-5-1
2010-2011 Year:
- The game challenge was called “Logo Motion” and our robot name was “Silver Bullet Re-loaded.”
- There were 25 students on the team.
- The first regional we attended was the BAE Granite Systems Regional in Manchester, New Hampshire
- We went 4-6-0
- We ranked 37th
- We won the Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award. This award celebrates the team that progresses beyond fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards.
- The second regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 6-5-0
- We ranked 8th
2011-2012 Year:
- The game challenge was called “Rebound Rumble” and our robot name was “Will You Marry Me?”
- There were 32 students on the team.
- The first regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 4-6-0
- We ranked 52nd
- We won the Team Spirit Award sponsored by Chrysler. This award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through partnership and teamwork furthering the object of FIRST.
- The second regional we attended was the SBPLI Regional in Long Island, New York
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- We went 6-6-1 during this competition
- We ranked 15th
- We attended the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri
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- We were in the Galileo division
- We went 7-2-0 during this competition
- We ranked 57th
2012-2013 Year:
- The game challenge was called “ Ultimate Ascent” and our robot name was “ Dr. Wee Woo”
- There were 33 students on the team
- The first regional we attended was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, Ohio
- We went 1-9-0 during this competition
- We ranked 53rd
- The second regional we attended was the Midwest Regional in Chicago, Illinois
- We went 6-4-0 during this competition
- We ranked 19th
- We won the Entrepreneurship Award sponsored by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. This award celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives.