The Raider Robotics club was created pre-pandemic and returns for the 2023-2024 school year at SPFHS.

Each year the team has the opportunity to compete in robotic competitions through FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). There are new challenges put together by the competition every year and team members must collaborate together to find possible solutions.

“I like not only the fact that I get to experience robotics competitions, which has been a dream of mine since elementary school, but [also] the fact that the club is such a connected community,” junior Saanvi Suresh said.

Suresh has been a member of the club since her freshman year and she is currently one of four team captains alongside junior Varun Chauhan, senior Sara Fevrier and senior Eli Krantz.

“I met one of my closest friends [through the club] and I have truly enjoyed being a part of the team over the past two years,” Suresh said. “I know I will continue to enjoy the experience.”

Two years ago, the team made it to the semifinals of the state championship, which was a huge accomplishment. At last year’s competition they got awarded the “best design robot.”

Club meetings usually take place on Thursdays and Fridays for two and a half hours. Students use a big portion of this time programming and building the robots.

“You can come in with no coding experience and no mechanical experience as long as you’re excited to learn,” head coach of the team Mathew Ducker Duffy said. “We believe very much in a growth mindset.”

If you have a passion for robotics and are interested in joining the club, reach out to Mr. Duffy or Mrs. Lockwood for more information.