CGUHS’s Mecha Knights Robotics Team competed in the Arizona North Regional Robotics Competition held March 9-12 at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. They arrived early for a tour of Lowell Observatory with an astronomer. After off-loading their robot, they set up their pit later that afternoon. Their robot made it through inspection with only three minor issues that needed attention. The inspector described their robot as “scrappy”, as it was obvious to him that all the work was done by the students. The team interviewed well with the judges who are all working engineers from sponsoring corporations. The Cougars won their first and last matches and ended their first official event earning two awards, “Safety Award” and “Gracious Professionalism Award”. The “Gracious Professionalism Award” is a great honor in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The award reads, “The Gracious Professionalism Award celebrates outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism and working together both on and off the field of play. The winning team exemplifies the principles of FIRST: fairness, humility, positivity, and respect. When not at a FIRST Competition, you might expect to find this team hunting dragons to slay. Whether you are a squire, a wizard, or a sage, you have a place with these Knights. Congratulations Team 996, the Mecha Knights of Casa Grande!” On Sunday, the team relaxed for a few hours in Flagstaff and had lunch at Collin’s Irish Pub before returning to Casa Grande. They look forward to spending the coming months building their skills and experience to field a more robust competition robot next year. The Cougars are advised by John Morris, CTE Engineering/Mathematics Teacher. For more information on the club, visit www.cguhsd.org/cgRoboticsTeam.aspx.