2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 135
BY SENATOR HEWITT
A RESOLUTION
To recognize and highly commend the Louisiana teams that participated in the 2017 FIRST
World Championship in Houston, Texas.
WHEREAS, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
is a national nonprofit organization that operates afterschool robotics programs for young
people ages six to eighteen in the United States and internationally, impacting more than
400,000 young people around the world each year; and
WHEREAS, ten years of evaluation data document that FIRST participants show a
statistically significant higher interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM), increased involvement in STEM-related activities, greater STEM
identity, higher levels of STEM knowledge, and greater interest in STEM careers than
students who do not participate, and the impact is even greater for female students; and
WHEREAS, FIRST participants are more motivated to do well in school, more likely
to take a challenging math or science course, and show improved problem solving, time
management, conflict resolution, and communication skills; and
WHEREAS, FIRST alumni express a greater interest in going to college and are
twice as likely to major in science or engineering as other students; and
WHEREAS, FIRST robotics competitions are designed to foster a love of science
and engineering and inspire young people's interest and participation in science and
technology; and
WHEREAS, a FIRST robotics competition is as close to real-world engineering as
a student can get, combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and
technology (the ultimate "Sport for the Mind"), with participants calling it "the hardest fun
you'll ever have"; and
WHEREAS, the annual FIRST Championship is the culminating event for FIRST
participants with team activities, efforts, and competitions held throughout the year; and
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WHEREAS, ten teams from Louisiana, with their mentors, traveled to Houston,
Texas, in April 2017, to participate in the 2017 FIRST Championship activities and pit their
skills and mental agility against the best and brightest from across the United States and the
globe; and
WHEREAS, these FIRST teams and their mentors deserve recognition and respect
for their hard work, dedication, commitment, love of science and technology, and quest for
excellence.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize and highly commend the Louisiana teams that participated in the
2017 FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas, as follows:
(1)Panthrobotics, FIRST Robotics Team 3337
Woodlawn High School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Daniel Eiland, Team Mentor
(2)Wildcat Robotics, FIRST Robotics Team 3039
Destrehan High School, Destrehan, Louisiana
Brian Young, Team Mentor
(3)FHS Robodawgs, FIRST Robotics Team 2221
Fontainebleau High School, Mandeville, Louisiana
Tracy Hoffman, Team Mentor
(4)Team Combustion, FIRST Robotics Team 1912
North Shore High School and Salmen High School, Slidell, Louisiana
Clark Rowley, Team Mentor
(5)Team Phenomena, FIRST Robotics Team 3616
Comeaux High School, Lafayette High School, and Home School Students
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lisa Rainey, Team Mentor
(6)KnightVision, FIRST Robotics Team 3991
Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bruce Bowman, Team Mentor
(7)S. S. Promethius, FIRST Robotics Team 2992
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Mandeville High School, Mandeville, Louisiana
Jaclyn Duhe', Team Mentor
(8)Dark Matter, FIRST Tech Challenge Team 10337
Mandeville Jr. High School, Mandeville, Louisiana
Tracy Hoffman, Team Mentor
(9)Redfish Robotics, FIRST Tech Challenge Team 9958
Slidell, Louisiana
Mike Clark, Team Mentor
(10)Bayou Builders, FIRST LEGO League Team 4043
Louisiana Children's Discovery Center, Hammond, Louisiana
Benjamin Williams, Team Mentor
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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