LUNATECS Celebrate Successful 25th Anniversary Season
Most Successful Season in Team History
The 2023 FIRST Energize Season became the most successful season in the LUNATECS’ history. Powered by excellence in design, programming, drive team, and student leadership performance, the team carried three blue banners home to Carneys Point. At our first district qualifier in Robbinsville, the team finished as finalists and also took home the quality award. Two weeks later in Bensalem the team again were finalists and were selected for the FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award in all of FIRST.
The LUNATECS finished the season ranked 8th out of approximately 150 teams in the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District and advanced to the World Championships in Houston, based both on our performance in the robot game and representing FMA as FIRST Impact Award presenters on the international stage. Additionally, coach Danielle Hasson received the Woodie Flowers Award, recognizing an outstanding mentor in the district, and went on to compete for the award at World Championships.
After multiple days of hard-fought competition in Houston, the LUNATECS ranked 13th out of 77 teams in the Milstein Division. The team went on to be chosen by the number one alliance and would eventually finish as finalists in the division.
Additionally, according to Statbotics, the team finished the season ranked 83rd out of over 3,000 teams, breaking the top 100 for the first time in team history.
Celebrating 25 Years
Team 316 was formed in 1999 with seven students and four mentors. The 2023 Season marked 25 years of competing with FIRST. For all 25 of those years, Salem Community College has given our team a home, providing spaces to work, to learn, and to host events. In that time the team has taken home 12 blue banners and many other finalist and team awards. Our Alumni have continued to give back the program, currently comprising over 60% of our current mentorship.
More About the FIRST Impact Award
“The FIRST Impact Award (formerly Chairman’s Award) is the most prestigious award at FIRST. It honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders.” (firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/first-impact-award-resources)
This award looks at the team’s efforts over a three-year period. The LUNATECS have invested countless hours in bringing their passion for robotics to the local community through summer camps, mentorship with NJ Gear UP, robot demonstrations, our annual Robot Run and STEAMfest, supporting women’s menstrual health while decreasing stigmas, and through our unique adaptive device program, Project Propel. We believe that we can use the skills we are acquiring to help those in need to have experiences they may otherwise miss out on. This summer the team will be completing Project Propel, Jr., a pediatric version of the popular adult swim fin.
To Our Sponsors
The LUNATECS would like to thank our sponsors: Salem Community College, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novelis, Lockheed Martin, Intuitive Foundation, FIRST MidAtlantic, and many more donors from local businesses, family, and friends who made this amazing season a possibility. We strive always to represent you and our schools and community in a way that will reflect the trust your investment represents.
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