Windsor Hosts 9th Annual FIRST Robotics Competition

This weekend, the Windsor Essex Great Lakes Event marked its ninth annual FIRST Robotics Competition, showcasing a remarkable display of talent and creativity. Hosted by FIRST Canada and Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics, thirty-four high school teams from across Ontario, including eleven regional teams, gathered at the University of Windsor’s St. Denis Athletic & Community Centre to compete in CRESCENDO, presented by Haas.

The two-day event was a spectacle of intense competition, where teams showcased their engineering skills, strategic thinking, and embraced the spirit of Co-opertition® and Gracious Professionalism®. The atmosphere was electric, filled with exciting competitions, performances by the Optimus Show LED Robot, lively team mascots, and enthusiastic cheering and dancing from teams and fans, complete with pom-poms.

More than just a competition, the event celebrated the hard work of participants over several months, highlighting their engineering and robotics skills, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking. Larry Koscielski, Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics Chair, emphasized the event’s role in sparking a passion for STEM among young minds and its contribution to the region’s talent pipeline.

A shared narrative of transformation and opportunity emerged from discussions with sponsors, judges, and volunteers. An alumnus credited the program with developing crucial skills for career success, while employers acknowledged the value of FIRST experience on a resume as an automatic qualifier for interviews. Sponsors considered their support a wise investment in nurturing future talent, and judges expressed pride in the regional talent showcased. This collective voice underscored the impact of community support on fostering personal success and community growth.

The judging panel, comprising both new and experienced members from the tech community, including Rocket Innovation Studio, Optimotive, AlphaKOR Group, Green Futures Growth Company, and WETechAlliance, faced the tough job of evaluating the teams. Their expertise was crucial in recognizing the young innovators’ achievements.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams also participated, including Hetherington School’s Robo Hawks, who showcased their 2024 FIRST Lego League (FLL) Engineering Innovation Award-winning project. Their involvement highlighted the event’s inclusive spirit and the continuum of STEM education and engagement.

The success of the Windsor Essex Great Lakes Event was made possible by the generous support of numerous sponsors, including platinum sponsor CenterLine (Windsor) Limited, gold sponsors St. Clair College and the University of Windsor, and local sponsors like Electrozad, KUKA, Balluff, Vista Solutions, FESTO, Invest WindsorEssex, Valiant TMS, KMJ Industrial Contractors, and WETechAlliance. Their commitment to fostering STEM education and career paths in the region was evident.

The event wrapped up with the announcement of the Award and District winners, celebrating those who demonstrated exceptional skill, strategy, and sportsmanship. A full list of winners is available at frc-events.firstinspires.org/2024/ONWIN/awards.

As the event concluded, participants and spectators were left inspired, looking forward to next year’s competition, which will mark the 10th year anniversary of the competition. The Windsor Essex Great Lakes Event has once again proven to be a crucial platform for nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders, highlighting the importance of innovation, teamwork, and community support in shaping the future.

Wishing all the best to the teams heading to the FIRST Robotics Canada Championship in Mississauga, with a special shoutout to our six regional FRC teams competing.

For more details Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics, please visit www.windsoressexfirst.org.

All photos by Clear Rock Studio.