About FIRST & The RoboRAIDERS


FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a non-profitable organization that inspires the high school students around the world to be creative in the areas of Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology.  The FIRST robotics program makes the high school students feel comfortable and make these subjects seem familiar and cool to the students.

We Robo-Raiders feel that the FIRST robotics program has truely inspired us to reach higher goals as a team and even individually.  Here are our words:

Confident. Friendly. Respectful. Determined. Dedicated. These are just a few of the characteristics of the Robo-raiders. We have had a major impact on the school, community, parents, volunteers and engineers around us through the FIRST program because of the impact FIRST has had on us.

The FIRST program has had an impact on the students at W.J. Keenan High School through teaching them the importance of moral values that will be used in everyday life.  Students have learned the importance of strategizing, time management, discipline, and the setting of priorities.  Students have learned to formulate plans or strategies in an organized and effective manner to achieve success.

FIRST is linked to a science and engineering program at our school called Project REAL, (Raider Engineering and Academic Leadership).  The focus of this program is to actively engage students in math and science courses that are enriched with engineering applications to increase students' academic performance in the study of math, science, engineering, and technology related fields at the post-secondary level.

Through FIRST, we have touched the hearts of many students, adults, parents, and volunteers in our community and at our school.  The relationships and mentality of our team has influenced many students to join robotics who did not think it would interest them.  To spread the FIRST message to all citizens we went out on the weekends and shared the impact that it has had on us.  Our team went to the Richland County Public Library and gave a great deal of information to the commmunity about FIRST and the competition.  We shared our robot with them and also gave a power point presentation breaking down FIRST and what it means to us.  We also came together at 4:30 in the morning to be on WIS news 10 and shared our robot with everyone.  We had a great time and saw that the news team could not get enough of team 1398 and our brilliant robot.  Adults and parents in the community have faith in our team, which is a source of inspiration that pushes us to continue to strive hard to achieve and accomplish our goals.

Our robot makes a positive impact on the people who have had the pleasure to see it.  Our robot will attract companies and volunteers to Keenan and create more partnerships that benefit our education.  The robot is the heart of our team, because it brings everyone together, regardless of any differences.  Knowing what we have to achieve and the time we have to get it done helps us to put all differences aside and combine ideas together to create what we know will be a great robot in competition.

We have formed strong partnerships with the community and involved our entire school in fundraising.  We established a "Robotics Day" at our school in which we celebrate six weeks of hard work and dedication.  The entire school came out during the lunch hour wearing their robotics T-shirts and buttons to show us their support.  We had our robot outside doing a demonstration for the students.  In addition, the parents and the students hosted a fundraiser where they sold fish, chicken, and nachos during the lunch hour and after school.  The turn out of this event went so well that our principal extended the lunch hour!!!

Overall, FIRST has impacted us with a life changing experience.  We have learned how to work together, manage our time, and meet our deadlines.  We have now learned how to move forward as a team and make sure that there is no member left behind.  FIRST has had an impact on parents, the school, volunteers, sponsors, and the community.  We will continue to cherish these drastic changes we have made and can not wait until competition because "We build together and achieve together, it's just a REAL thing, Robo-Raiders for life!!!"


Fredricka Dillard
Kim Martin
Alyshia Forrester
Stephanie Mitnaul
Jennifer Dillard