Archive: Around Town

Code Red Robotics, the Ithaca High School FIRST robotics team, attended the Finger Lakes Regional at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) on March 8th - 10th where they ranked sixth of 41 teams and received accolades.

During the initial 12 seeding matches, Code Red rose from last place to a peak of fifth-ranked, qualifying them to compete in the elimination-bracket finals. Code Red balanced with two allied robots during quarterfinals on a slippery-surfaced teeter totter, or ‘bridge’. The bridge is barely large enough to accommodate the robots; this feat was accomplished only two times nationally during previous competitions prior to Code Red doing it. Code Red proceeded to the semifinals where they were eliminated.

At this regional, Code Red was recognized with the Engineering Inspiration Award, one of the most prestigious awards presented by FIRST. This award qualified the team to attend the international championship in St. Louis, Missouri, April 25-28.

“The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as their community.”

Code Red Robotics is a team composed of 57 students and 20 professional mentors. They are proud to inspire students through hands-on experience, education, and opportunity in multiple fields of engineering, community service, public relations, finance, leadership, effective communication, and teamwork. Students lead the team in tackling the facets of operation, including organization, fund raising, public relations, engineering, and documentation.

In addition, the team focuses on providing for its supportive home community, and through community service, public showcases, and mentoring FIRST programs for younger ages they inspire younger engineers.

At the height of Code Red’s year is a six-week period in which each student spends up to 28 hours per week working with professional mentors from the community to analyze a game released by FIRST, then design, fabricate, and build a 120 lb. robot to compete in the challenge. This year the game is a derivative of basketball, which entails scoring points by shooting balls into four hoops at either end of the field. The game has the additional opportunity to earn bonus points by balancing on the bridges. Having already presented this season’s robot at RIT, the team plans to attend the Washington DC Regional and then the championships in St. Louis.

The team is excited for its upcoming participation in the championship event, and now needs to raise the additional necessary funding. Code Red is looking to the community for help to bring them closer to their ultimate goal; sharing a passion for FIRST with others at the international championships. Tax deductible contributions to support the team's trip to St. Louis can be made to IPEI, PO Box 4268, Ithaca, NY 14852, or online at www.ipei.org. Contact the team’s faculty advisor with questions or suggestions, Ian Krywe, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Participation in FIRST and the two regional competitions is made possible from support from the community, including jcpenney, Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), Autodesk, BAE Systems, BorgWarner Morse TEC, CBORD, Kionix, Goodrich ISR, Incodema, Cornell School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Holt Brothers Real Estate, Vector Magnetics, GORGES, VFW Post 961, and Ithaca City School District.

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