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Five Pinellas teams selected for the state FIRST Tech Challenge

Feb. 7, 2024

FIRST Tech winners

Pinellas County Schools had a successful fun at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge.

Five of our teams were selected to compete in the state championship. Pinellas is in the Gulf Coast Robotics League. 

The purpose of FIRST Tech Challenge is to give high school and middle school age students an opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of complex problem solving in a positive and supportive team environment.

Congratulations to our winning teams:

  • Nerdvana and Quantum Bots from Hollins High
  • Pandara, Gears of Fire and Violet Fusion from Palm Harbor University High

PCS Teams also won several special awards: 

  • Think Award – Nerdvana: Removing engineering obstacles through creative thinking
  • Control Award – Pandara: Mastering Robot intelligence
  • Connect Award – Quantum Bots: Connecting the dots between community, FIRST, and the diversity of the engineering world

One of our FIRST LEGO League teams, Radioactive Trash Pandas (Clearwater Fundamental Middle), won a golden ticket to the regional championship for their division. 

Clearwater Fundamental Golden Ticket