Photo Credits: Alpha Dogs Media Team
Fast, fun and futuristic certainly describes how we’d envision the world of Humberview Secondary School’s robotics team. The Alpha Dogs Team 4946, smashed expectations last weekend winning their division (Science) at the FIRST Robotics Canada (FRC) Ontario Provincial Championships in Hamilton.
What you don’t necessarily notice at competitions is the monumental effort by a group of teams – the Design team, the Build team, the Programming team, and the Business & Media Team – 43 students in all – that it takes to get to that moment. And then there are the dedicated teachers and community members who are there for direction and support – Mr. Cyr, Mr. Sargant, Mr. Hilgendorff, Ms. Krauter, and Mr. Ziskos.
Each year the robotics challenge is announced in early January. Then the race is on! Teams, including the Alpha Dogs, have just six short weeks to design and build a robot, that will compete in the FIRST Robotics Canada tournaments where three robots compete against each other in multiple competitions in order to advance.
The Alpha Dogs team was originally formed in 2013 so this year marked their 10th for competing. The sentiment is that it was absolutely their best season so far. Their robot Hammerhead, so-named for its resemblance to a hammerhead shark, proved to be quick, reliable, and solid. Hammerhead took a couple of hard hits but never let team Alpha Dogs down.
Winning their division meant proudly bringing home the blue banner to Humberview. Now qualified for the FIRST World Championship, team Alpha Dogs are, on extremely short notice, preparing to travel to Houston, Texas next week. There they will be representing Humberview S.S. and the Caledon community on the world stage.
Robotics is considered by many as the perfect mix of sports with science and technology. It is inarguably a great way for students to build their science, engineering and technology skills. It fosters innovation and creates confident, inspired leaders.
The Humberview Alpha Dogs and their teachers have invested a tremendous amount of passion, intellect, and energy to get to this magic moment.
The Alpha Dogs have had great support from the community including the Rotary Clubs of Bolton and Palgrave, the Albion Bolton Agricultural Society, Husky Injection Molding, Canadian Tire, Chouinard Bros roofing, Rotogran, Pizzaville, Hatch, Embark, Ben Machines, Radical Digital Agency, Fine Fords, The Knightsgrange Foundation and National Transformers.
Anyone who would like to help to support the Alpha Dogs in their goal to become World Champions can reach out to [email protected]
Learn more about the Alpha Dogs at www.4946.ca
Follow the Alpha Dogs on Instagram @4946alphadogs
Watch the matches in Houston as they are streamed online at www.thebluealliance.com
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