The Skunkworks Robotics Team of Aviation High School competed on March 21 and 22 at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Microsoft Seattle Regional at the Tacoma Convention Center. Skunkworks was part of 31 teams that participated from all around the Northwest, including British Columbia. After seeding in third place, Skunkworks chose teams from Tahoma High School and Bellevue High School to join them in their alliance.

The Skunkworks alliance won every match in the finals and earned the championship! With this victory, the Skunkworks team is invited to compete at the World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, April 17 – 19, against 360 other teams from around the world.

Additionally, Skunkworks won the highly prized Engineering Inspiration award. This award is one of the highest awards FIRST bestows and celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers within a team’s school and community.

The second highest award given by FIRST to competing teams is the Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” award, which was also given to Skunkworks. This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature. This second award double qualifies Skunkworks for the World Championship for the second consecutive year.

Congratulation and best wishes at the World Championship to Aviation High School’s Skunkworks!!

More information on FIRST can be found at: www.usfirst.org