As the years go by, the MCPS Robotics team grows substantially. One of the best things about our robotics team, however, is not only that they are one of the only two competing robotics teams in Montana, but also that they are compiled of all our MCPS high schools’ most talented people.

The team works through the program FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) which is a global organization that facilitates science and technology education for K-12 students. The children’s program which is based around LEGOS, called FIRST LEGOS is the introductory program which is K-8th and is used by many of our MCPS middle and elementary schools.
Washington Middle School is heavily involved in this program. Last year they won first in the state and were able to compete in Houston Texas. These kids work very hard and are able to continue their education in the form of further highschool opportunities through the extension of FIRST.
The members will continue their wonderful work ethic through the hard work that goes into the highschool program. The program itself is described as structured more like a business as opposed to just another extra curricular.
The curriculum is based around different roles including building, programming, management, safety, inventory, and CAD (designing the robot online before it is built). Theres no doubt that these individuals’ work ethic is through the roof, as at such a young age they are exploring the true meaning of working as a team. If the building team isn’t held accountable for their work, then the programming team can do what they need to finish their job.
Another noteworthy part of their experience is the mandatory volunteering which also includes sharing the love they have for the curriculum with the community and children.
Now a big aspect of their program, the same as any other, is the fundraising they do. This year they are looking to raise 75,000 dollars because they were able to reach their fundraising goal last year with immense surprise in their ambitious goal. Though this may seem ambitious yet again, they have been able to reach over their goal with 77,610 dollars.

Another amazing accomplishment they have achieved as their program has grown is an official space to meet. In the past years their residents for the meetings have changed every year, making the program lack the desired stability it needed. Along with these growths there has also been growth in their attendance. In the previous years it has not only had smaller numbers, but also been dominated by males but now has had a growth in its female involvement too. This year is the first time in 5 years that they have had a graduating class with women included.
This year the team will be attending a competition in Ventura and later Las Vegas where they will have a chance to show off the new robot they have built for the task. Now programming, designing, and building, this robot does not come at a small feet. The night before they revealed their robot, the programming team was up until midnight making sure it would be able to run in the morning.
This is due to the complication that this kind of dedication relies on shipping in bits and pieces of the robot to complete the build. And as everyone knows, sometimes the postal service