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Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Program

Building a better world by engaging students in STEM.

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students celebrating winning their robotics challenge

Inspiring Students Through STEM and Robotics

The Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi is proud to be the program partner for the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics program since 2012.

We are a statewide community focused on building a better world for tomorrow by engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while they design, build, and compete with robots in an annual challenge.

FIRST® Tech Challenge teaches students in grades 7-12 the value of hard work, innovation, creativity, and teamwork.

FIRST® Tech Challenge

It’s way more than building robots. FIRST® Tech Challenge teams (team members aged 12-18) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head competition in an alliance format. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!”
Students operate a small competition robot on a game field while a referee records scores, inside a large arena with spectators in the background.

What is the FIRST® Tech Challenge?

Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.

Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for over $80M in college scholarships throughout the country.

Start a Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Team

The Program Delivery Organization for the FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics program in Mississippi is here to support your team and help you get started. The registration process is handled on the national website. Of course, you may contact us to discuss the registration process at any time.

Mississippi FIRST® TECH Challenge teams come in all shapes and sizes. However, each team must have:

  • Two or more adult coaches or mentors.
  • 3 or more participants ages 13-18 (grades 7-12).
  • Teams can be of mixed age and gender.

 

Once you have decided to start a team, please read the following points to help get you going.
  1. If this is the first time you are participating, please explore the rookie grant opportunities. Make sure you contact us as well, because we have Mississippi Rookie Grants available for you.
  2. School affiliation is not required, but a central organization or location where students meet and work on their robot is important. To simulate the playing field, a 12 foot by 12 foot area should be available at times, especially close to the date of an event.
  3. Gather all your participants and coaches names and register your team on the FIRST® Dashboard. Each participant will have to register their own account on that page.
  4. Once you have registered, you will be given your official team number. This number will stay with the team each year.

Register Your Team!

For more information on how to start a team, visit the official FIRST® Tech Challenge Website.
Mannie Lowe

One Last Step!

Once you're done registering your team, make sure you give me a call. I'll provide you with further instructions!

Mannie Lowe

Project Manager

  • Three male students using remote controllers to move a robot (not seen).

    Volunteer with the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge

    FIRST® Tech Challenge isn't just a robotics competition; it's a movement. It's where students discover the thrill of STEM, the power of teamwork, and the joy of problem-solving. But none of this would be possible without dedicated volunteers like YOU.

    Learn more about becoming a FTC volunteer.
  • A smiling participant in a bright green event shirt is handed a small red trophy, with others in matching shirts and a crowd in an arena behind them.

    Sponsor the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge

    Giving to the Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Robotics Program offers companies, institutions, and individuals an opportunity to support youth education through hands-on STEM experiences that develop a technologically skilled workforce.

    Learn more about becoming a FTC sponsor.

Previous Seasons

See the results from past Mississippi FIRST® Tech Challenge Championship Seasons.

AwardTeam
Inspire AwardWinner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS)
Finalist: #8651 – Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS)
Finalist: #12272 – Team Lightning (Team Storm 4107 Robotics, Gulfport, MS)
Winning AllianceCaptain: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS)
Partner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS)
Finalist AllianceCaptain: #23659 – RoboBears (Alcorn Central Middle School, Glen, MS)
Partner: #23628 – Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo High School, Tupelo, MS)
Think AwardWinner: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS)
Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS)
Connect AwardWinner: #23994 – Downpour (Team Storm 4107 Robotics, Gulfport, MS)
Finalist: #23659 – RoboBears (Alcorn Central Middle School, Glen, MS)
Innovate Award sponsored by RTXWinner: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS)
Finalist: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Mount Olive, MS)
Control AwardWinner: #8772 – Houlka Wildcats (Houlka Attendance Center, Houlka, MS)
Finalist: #6556 – Tempest (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS)
Motivate AwardWinner: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg-Warren Community, Vicksburg, MS)
Finalist: #19795 – Rockbotics (Saint Stanislaus Robotics, Bay St. Louis, MS)
Design AwardWinner: #22911 – Kilobiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS)
Finalist: #22912 – Megabiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS)
Compass AwardMr. Roy Cloud – Coach, Teams #6556, #21585 (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS)
Courage Award in memory of Dawn LylesMr. Burell Leach – Coach, Team #25773, Crusaders Robotics (Park Place Christian Academy, Pearl, MS)
Volunteer of the Year AwardMr. Brenden Phillips – Coach, Teams #12272, #20217, #23994, #24061 (Gulfport, MS)
Program Delivery Partner’s AwardMrs. Phyllis Skipper – Coach, Team #12390, Robotic Raiders (Lamar School, Meridian, MS)
Dean’s List FinalistsAustin B., Team #12272 – Lightning (Gulfport, MS)
Zachory M., Team #23628 – Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo, MS)
Madeleine S., Team #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada, MS)

 

AwardTeam
Inspire AwardWinner: #8651 – Wait For It… (Rankin Robotics, Pearl, MS)
Finalist: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS)
Finalist: #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS)
Winning AllianceCaptain: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS)
1st Pick: #8803 – East Rankin Robotics (East Rankin Academy, Pelahatchie, MS)
2nd Pick: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS)
Finalist AllianceCaptain: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS)
1st Pick: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS)
2nd Pick: #23628 – TMS Tornadoes Legacy (Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo, MS)
Think AwardWinner: #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS)
Finalist: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg Jr. High School, Vicksburg, MS)
Finalist: #6556 – Tempest (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS)
Connect AwardWinner: #6302 – Odyssey (Hartfield Academy, Flowood, MS)
Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS)
Finalist: #21585 – Irish Storm (St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, MS)
Innovate Award sponsored by Raytheon TechnologiesWinner: #10191 – Trial and Error (Vicksburg Jr. High School, Vicksburg, MS)
Finalist: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS)
Finalist: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS)
Control AwardWinner: #23521 – DeSoto Technix (Community Group, Southaven, MS)
Finalist: #12390 – Robotic Raiders (The Lamar School, Meridian, MS)
Finalist: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Laurel, MS)
Motivate AwardWinner: #11279 – Pure Imagination (Grenada Career & Tech Center, Grenada, MS)
Finalist: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS)
Finalist: #6273 – Technocats (Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Bogue Chitto, MS)
Design AwardWinner: #14627 – Spare Parts (Community Group, Laurel, MS)
Finalist: #6273 – Technocats (Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Bogue Chitto, MS)
Finalist: #6205 – SCARLET (SRI, Ridgeland, MS)
Judge’s AwardWinner: #22911 – Kilobiters (Enterprise High School, Enterprise, MS)
Promote AwardWinner: #16151 – R U Serious (Community Group, Brandon, MS)
Compass AwardMr. Rob Davis – #14236 – Slight Malfunction (Community Group, Brookhaven, MS)
Courage Award in memory of Dawn LylesMs. Jackie Lewis – Coach of Teams #22426, #22911, #22912, and #22923
Volunteer of the Year AwardMr. Ethan Crain, Referee – Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge, East Rankin Coach
Program Delivery Partner’s AwardMr. Ryan Elmore – Coach, Pure Imagination – FTC Team #11279, FRC Team #9435
Dean’s List Finalists#1: Lanya E., #11279 – Pure Imagination Finalist
#2: Jacob G., #16151 – R U Serious Finalist
#3: Joey Q., #12272 – Team Lightning Finalist

 

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2023-2024 MS_FTC Championship Recap

2023-2024 MS_FTC Championship Recap

Recap of the Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship weekend in Oxford, MS on March 8-9, 2024.