DeKalb Robotics Team Takes Home 'Inspire' Award

In a qualifying tournament for the FirstTech Challenge State Championship, DeKalb County robotics team CougarBots earned second place, as well as the distinguished Inspire Award.

Recipients of the Inspire Award demonstrate the true embodiment of the tournament’s challenge, and winners are often top contenders in other award categories, as well as stiff competition during the challenge.

Formed in 2013, CougarBots is comprised of students from Henderson Middle School and Lakeside High School. The group competes in FirstTech Challenge events, which are strategic, head-to-head robotics competitions for teams of middle and high school students.

Coached by Henderson Middle School technology teacher Brett Ersnt, the team designs, builds, and programs robots to compete on an alliance in the sports-based model of FirstTech Challenge competitions.

This year’s team members are Tenzin Choerab, Abby Hunter, Zoe Weiss, and Evren Basaran from Henderson Middle School, and Nathan Reid, Norman Reid, Clare Hunter, and Rohit Gehani from Lakeside High School.

CougarBots’s performance in the qualifying round secured their spot in the FirstTech Challenge State Championship, which takes place in February at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. There, 36 robotics teams from across the state will compete for the championship title.

FirstTech Challenge is a program sponsored by GeorgiaFIRST, a regional nonprofit that aims to inspire, mentor and educate young students in the fields of science and technology.

Photo courtesy of CougarBot. Team photo is missing members Nathan Reid, Evren Basaran, and Rohit Gehani.

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