Horizon Robotics Teams Net Contest Wins, Advance to State

Student robotics teams from Horizon Science Academy McKinley Park landed several awards last Saturday, February 10, at the FIRST Illinois Robotics Challenge competition. 

All three teams from Horizon competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) category, and all three secured a spot in the finals on Saturday. Horizon's high school-age team earned multiple awards, including a first place for robotics design and a place in the upcoming state finals competition.

Members of Horizon Science Academy's Robomind team prep their robot for competition.The FIRST competitions establish standard rules whereby student teams build robots to compete in a match-based, sports-like environment. The FTC category involves students building a TETRIX robot or a MATRIX robot that can operate independently and under control of a student. 

At the competition, the high school team (Team No. 7030, or "Robominds") earned the first place trophy for the FTC Design Award, a finalist trophy and second-place finishes for the Inspire Award, the Connect Award and the Motivate Award, all of which tie into primary goals of the sponsoring organization. Horizon's middle school team (Team No. 7007, or 'Mission Impossible") scored a finalist award and trophy.

A league of 178 FTC robotics teams compete in Illinois, and of these, only 44 make it to the state championship. Horizon's teams are helmed by Kadir Ozturk, who called called this year's showings a great success for Horizon.

Members from Horizon Science Academy's Mission Impossible and Robominds teams proudly display their finalist plaque at the competition on Saturday, February 10.