2019 -- H 6082

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LC002499

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING TEAM 78, AIRSTRIKE, ON QUALIFYING FOR THE NEW

ENGLAND "FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY" (FIRST) ROBOTICS COMPETITION DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP AND

COMPETING AT THE FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Filippi, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: May 08, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, As our young people prepare to compete in the global market, robotics

competitions and the propensities inherent in the necessary preparation for these events have

become increasingly popular and provide a tremendous opportunity for the development of team

building skills, and engineering and computer proficiency; and

     WHEREAS, The FIRST Robotics Competition offers high school students and their

professional mentors with the opportunity to work together to create a solution to a common task;

and

     WHEREAS, Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and

technology, teams are challenged to design and build a robot in just six weeks, using a standard

"kit of parts" and adhering to a common set of rules in order to play a sophisticated field game;

and

     WHEREAS, Team AIR STRIKE is comprised of 25 students from 13 schools across

Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts and 14 adult mentors from 7 communities. Team

members built a remotely-controlled 125 lb. robot for this year's DESTINATION DEEP SPACE

challenge; and

     WHEREAS, During three qualifying NE FIRST District Events, Team AIR STRIKE

earned the #1 ranking at each event, and 9th overall out of 210 competing teams represented in the

New England District which then qualified the team to compete at the FIRST World

Championship; and

     WHEREAS, For the creativity, execution, and passion for First ideals, exhibited during

the initial qualification matches, AIR STRIKE was presented with the coveted Chairman's

Award, the Engineering Inspiration Award, and team member Isabella Heffernan from St. Mary

Academy – Bay View, was selected as a semi-finalist for the Dean's List Award; and

     WHEREAS, At the World Championship, AIRSTRIKE finished 4th out of 68 teams in

their division and made it through the quarter finals. Although the team was eliminated in the

semi-finals, their efforts and season record was phenomenal; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential and fitting to recognize the triumphs of our youth and to

celebrate the accomplishments of our future leaders. Members of AIR STRIKE are remarkable

young men and women who epitomize our hopes for a stronger, more sustainable future, and they

are truly deserving of our recognition and praise; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates and applauds Team 78, AIR STRIKE, on their

success at the New England FIRST District Championship and a strong showing at the FIRST

World Championship and wishing them much success at the Championship and in all their future

endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Lisa Janssen, Aquidneck Island Robotics, Inc.

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