FIRST Robotics - Seattle Academy
Source: http://www.seattleacademy.org/academics/student-academic-teams/robotics/first-robotics
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
FIRST Robotics - Seattle Academy
The Hub
FIRST Robotics
The mission of the Seattle Academy Robotics program is to offer curious students a place to learn foundational skills in building, coding, design, and business administration. For students that want to excel and commit more time, they will have an opportunity to explore high engineering problems and advanced coding techniques. We believe deeply in a student-run program with mentors to give support and vision. Students select from various proficiency building sub-groups that include but are not limited to coding, precision fabrication, Computer Aided Design (CAD), business & marketing, and more. Throughout the season, students have a sense of ownership and commitment to the program through a competition that promotes applied technical learning alongside a group of mentors who facilitate the experience.
Seattle Academy started with a single First Tech Challenge team within the FIRST league, which is the largest competitive robotics league in North America. As the program grew and Seattle Academy found success at the World Championships three years in a row, we transitioned to the
First Robotics Competition (FRC)
league within FIRST, building faster and larger robots in a shorter amount of time and truly entering the “big leagues” of robotics. The FRC league pushes students to work together, learn skills, and have fun while doing it!
meet our redshift robotics mentors
lEAGUE AND cOMPETITIONS
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 8032 Redshift (@8032redshift)
FIRST Lego League/ FLL
: 6th-7th grade team 62358, the “Lego Lizards”
First Lego League is an option for 6th and 7th grade students. The challenge is released in early Fall and the team starts buildings and coding robots to fulfill over a dozen tasks. It teaches the basics of building, programming, and teamwork.
FIRST Tech Challenge/FTC
: We have a “varsity” 7th/8th grade team 5619 “Horizon” and a 9th grade Upper School team 2856, “Tesseract”.
First Tech Challenge is a Middle School “varsity” option for 7th and 8th grade students and in the Upper School there is a 9th grade only team. They receive their challenge in Fall and build and program a robot throughout Fall and into Winter when the final competitions take place. The FTC season extends across both Fall and Winter trimester.
FIRST Robotics Competition/FRC
: 9th-12th grade team 8032 “Redshift”. The “Big Leagues” of Robotics at SAAS.
First Robotics Competition is the “Big Leagues” of robotics in the Upper School at SAAS. There is a preseason in Fall where students build technical skills, and the main season launches in Winter. Students have a few months to build and program a 75 pound robot that can fulfill a variety of tasks. Competitions are in March so the season extends slightly into Spring Trimester.
Recent Awards and Accomplishments
2019-2020
FRC Rookie Team of the Year Award
Made it into the FRC playoffs as rookies
2018-2019
World Championships in Houston
Think Award Winners
2017-18 Relic Recovery
Western Super Regionals
Innovate Award 2nd Place
Washington State
Winning Alliance
Inspire Nomination
Regional Tournament
Winning Alliance
Inspire Award Winner
2017-16 Velocity Vortex
World Championships in Houston
Finished in top 20 teams
Inspire Award Nomination
Western Super Regionals
Elimination Semi-Finalist
Design Award 2nd Place
Washington State
Inspire Award 2nd Place
Washington State Champions
2015-16 Res-Q
Western Super Regionals
Finalist Alliance 2nd Pick
Washington State
Inspire Award Nomination
Think Award Winner
Regional Tournament
Finalist Alliance Captain
Inspire Award Winner
The Hub
FIRST Robotics
The mission of the Seattle Academy Robotics program is to offer curious students a place to learn foundational skills in building, coding, design, and business administration. For students that want to excel and commit more time, they will have an opportunity to explore high engineering problems and advanced coding techniques. We believe deeply in a student-run program with mentors to give support and vision. Students select from various proficiency building sub-groups that include but are not limited to coding, precision fabrication, Computer Aided Design (CAD), business & marketing, and more. Throughout the season, students have a sense of ownership and commitment to the program through a competition that promotes applied technical learning alongside a group of mentors who facilitate the experience.
Seattle Academy started with a single First Tech Challenge team within the FIRST league, which is the largest competitive robotics league in North America. As the program grew and Seattle Academy found success at the World Championships three years in a row, we transitioned to the
First Robotics Competition (FRC)
league within FIRST, building faster and larger robots in a shorter amount of time and truly entering the “big leagues” of robotics. The FRC league pushes students to work together, learn skills, and have fun while doing it!
meet our redshift robotics mentors
lEAGUE AND cOMPETITIONS
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 8032 Redshift (@8032redshift)
FIRST Lego League/ FLL
: 6th-7th grade team 62358, the “Lego Lizards”
First Lego League is an option for 6th and 7th grade students. The challenge is released in early Fall and the team starts buildings and coding robots to fulfill over a dozen tasks. It teaches the basics of building, programming, and teamwork.
FIRST Tech Challenge/FTC
: We have a “varsity” 7th/8th grade team 5619 “Horizon” and a 9th grade Upper School team 2856, “Tesseract”.
First Tech Challenge is a Middle School “varsity” option for 7th and 8th grade students and in the Upper School there is a 9th grade only team. They receive their challenge in Fall and build and program a robot throughout Fall and into Winter when the final competitions take place. The FTC season extends across both Fall and Winter trimester.
FIRST Robotics Competition/FRC
: 9th-12th grade team 8032 “Redshift”. The “Big Leagues” of Robotics at SAAS.
First Robotics Competition is the “Big Leagues” of robotics in the Upper School at SAAS. There is a preseason in Fall where students build technical skills, and the main season launches in Winter. Students have a few months to build and program a 75 pound robot that can fulfill a variety of tasks. Competitions are in March so the season extends slightly into Spring Trimester.
Recent Awards and Accomplishments
2019-2020
FRC Rookie Team of the Year Award
Made it into the FRC playoffs as rookies
2018-2019
World Championships in Houston
Think Award Winners
2017-18 Relic Recovery
Western Super Regionals
Innovate Award 2nd Place
Washington State
Winning Alliance
Inspire Nomination
Regional Tournament
Winning Alliance
Inspire Award Winner
2017-16 Velocity Vortex
World Championships in Houston
Finished in top 20 teams
Inspire Award Nomination
Western Super Regionals
Elimination Semi-Finalist
Design Award 2nd Place
Washington State
Inspire Award 2nd Place
Washington State Champions
2015-16 Res-Q
Western Super Regionals
Finalist Alliance 2nd Pick
Washington State
Inspire Award Nomination
Think Award Winner
Regional Tournament
Finalist Alliance Captain
Inspire Award Winner