The Newton Ligerbots had a great 2011 FIRST Robotics season. In March they competed at the WPI Regional and won the Website award for excellence in student-designed, -built, and -managed FIRST team websites. Newton North Junior and Ligerbots CEO, Paige Grody, was recognized as a finalist for the “Dean’s List” award honoring outstanding student leaders for exemplary passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals.
At the Boston Regional this weekend, the Ligerbots were on the 4th-ranked alliance. They competed strongly in the quarter finals, but, alas, were eliminated. Superintendent David Fleishman spent a couple of hours with the Ligerbots at this event on Saturday morning and was very impressed with the team and its program. This last week, the Ligerbots also graciously hosted a team from Canada, the Cyber Gnomes, welcoming the team members into their homes, hosting evening events, entertaining them, and developing long-lasting friendships as a result.
Finally, the Ligerbots won for the Newton Public Schools an award for Progressive Manufacturing Training & Education Mastery in Managing Automation’s 2011 Progressive Manufacturing 100 awards (PM100). The PM100 Awards recognize manufacturing companies (and organizations) from around the world that have achieved significant breakthroughs in innovation, in the use of advanced technologies, and in the effective management of their businesses.
As a 3rd year team, The Ligerbots are exemplary, catching the eye of FIRST judges, teams, and media from across the country and worldwide. Kudos to the talented students, dedicated coaches and mentors, involved parents, and committed sponsors, all of whom make this program a huge success. If you’d like to get involved with the Ligerbots, contact coach Chuck Hurwitz (Charles_Hurwitz [at] newton.k12.ma.us). They need technical, business, marketing, and financial mentors and sponsors. If you would like to learn more about FIRST and its programs, including Junior FIRST Lego League (grades K-3) and FIRST Lego League (grades 3-9), see the FIRST website (www.usfirst.org) or contact Robin Saitz (rsaitz [at] ptc.com).