District 308 Robotics Team Headed To World Competition

Oswego IL

04 April, 2022

6:20 PM

Description

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego School District 308's robotics team has won a prestigious award, sending the 2338 Gear It Forward team to the world competition in Houston April 20-23. The team won FIRST Robotics' Chairman's Award, which is reserved for teams that exemplify principles of outreach, equity and inclusion. The award is FIRST Robotics's most prestigious, District 308 officials said. "FIRST works as a community to prepare young people for a STEM future and aims to ensure its programs have a lasting, positive impact," said Theresa Komitas, District 308's director of communications and public relations. "Even with just one year of participation, participants are 2-3xs more likely to have gains in STEM outcomes compared to a comparison group of peers not participating in FIRST." 2338 Gear It Forward also set a 2022 season win record by finishing fourth in the robot games. The team's impact extends beyond the work its participants do for others and at competitions. The third Friday of March in Illinois commemorates Illinois First Robotics Day, and Komitas said the day is celebrated as a result of the team's efforts. "Congratulations to this team and its coaches for being among the best in the country year after year," she wrote in an email.