Robotics Team Competes for Ninth Season

Pure Imagination, a dynamic robotics team composed of middle and high school students, has recently completed its 9th successful season. This remarkable group competes in three world-renowned divisions: FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). These competitions are held globally, and the students in this district consistently excel, showcasing their passion and expertise.

The team is composed of students ranging from 7th to 12th grade, with a diverse group of 8 females and 2 males. Each competition the team participates in is fast-paced, lasting only 2:30 minutes, yet it involves multiple rounds. During each round, the team’s robot must complete various tasks, including autonomous actions and actions controlled by the students. The students work together with other robots to accomplish missions and score as many points as possible.

FIRST competitions are about more than just building robots. The students not only construct and program robots but also engage in fundraising, research, and documentation of their engineering process. They are responsible for finding mentors to help them solve the challenges posed each season. What makes FIRST particularly unique is that the challenge changes every year, requiring the teams to adapt, learn new skills, and modify their strategies accordingly.

This year, Pure Imagination has significantly expanded its outreach efforts. The team participated in various events within their school district, The University of Mississippi, and even at the Columbus Air Show. Over the past year, they’ve successfully connected with more than 100,000 individuals, helping build interest in FIRST, robotics, and STEM education.

Throughout their journey, the team has demonstrated consistent success. Both the FLL and FTC teams have qualified for the state championship every season they’ve competed. The FRC team has also shown remarkable success, competing in various events across the Southeast and winning numerous awards. The FLL team earned the Robot Performance Award and the Core Values Award at their qualifier, while the FTC team brought home the Innovate Award, the Think Award, and the Winning Alliance Award. At the state championship, they clinched the Think Award once again. The FRC team received the Imagery Award at their first event and will compete in their second event this coming April.

In addition to the team’s successes, Madeleine Stuvee received the prestigious Dean’s List Nomination for the state of Mississippi, and she will represent Grenada at the World Championship in Houston, Texas. Furthermore, the team has received an invitation to compete at an international competition in Chicago, Illinois, this summer.

Pure Imagination is constantly seeking sponsors, mentors, and new outreach opportunities. If you are interested in supporting this hardworking group of students or would like them to speak at an event, please reach out to pureimagination11279@gmail.com.

This talented group of students is not only mastering the art of robotics but also inspiring others to embrace STEM education, one competition at a time.