Our Mission

FIRST Team 2936 vows, to be the hero of tomorrow,

to not only spread the vision of FIRST, 

but establish a tradition of inspiring the next generation.

“One Robot at a Time”

 2013 Robotic Season

Ultimate Ascent is the name of the 2013 game challenge. This year the game involves shooting frisbees into goals at different heights and climbing a pyrimid shaped tower for bonus points. Our team has decided to shoot frisbees into the high goals and climb the tower to score bonus points.  While on the tower, we will try and score 4 more frisbees for extra bonus points.

We only have six weeks . . .

Every year the game is different this year it is Ultimate Ascent. The game is unveiled in January each year and we have six weeks to design a robot to fit the regulations of the game, we must build and test before it is shipped to competition. It’s not just about building a robot, we learn engineering, software, electrical, Entrepreneurship and business skills here in robotics. Our mentors also teach us communicating techniques and an ability to work as a team.

2012 Season In 4 years we have grown from 16 to 50 students. - Our students went to the Education Foundation School Board luncheon and gave our speech promoting  Behind the Bot – Stories of Change outreach initiative Partnership with Boy Scouts to promote first ever Robotics Merit Badge Summer 2010 Merit Badge- mentored boy scouts and helped them get their robotics merit badges Strengthened relationship and built interest in Robotics Merit Badge by Demo at “Scouting on the Boardwalk” event in Kemah Organized, developed and will manage upcoming Merit Badge workshops at DHS Robotics shop All Spanish speaking troop Robotics Merit badge workshop Sustained and expanded EARLY Robotics Tournament to 56 total students Had 3 out of district teams including Galveston and Iron Plaid teams Funded and constructed team practice boards including Houston’s team Westview EARLY Robotics and Galveston’s Robomagnets. Gatorzilla’s travel to Elementary Schools to mentor EARLY teams Gators Go Green -  We use recycling money donated to DHS students to enter special Olympics Demo at EPO gaining awareness in the community Developed  instructional videos on YouTube to help other teams Our senior students were asked to intern at NASA Developed apprenticeship for Jr. High students Many of our female students have become interested in Robotics because of our software, electrical, and engineering Over a third of our students now are female

2011 Season Our students went to the Education Foundation School Board luncheon to educate them about FIRST Helped special ED with recycling and raise money (Gators go Green) Demo and volunteered time at FORD Drive one for your school Demo Macys’ (Shop for a Cause)/ Education Foundation NASA  came over and tested their new technology using facial expressions In our 3rd year we spread EARLY to all the elementary middle schools in the Dickinson district and completely funded 3 teams Formed relationship with Dickinson Mayor by doing the Keep Dickinson Beautiful campaign.  Courtesy Control at San Jacinto FTC tournament Placed 3rd  at Alamo Regional Won Safety All-Star, Imagery Award, & Industrial Safety Award at Alamo We were finalists at the LSR and won Safety All-Star and Gracious Professionalism Received Website Excellence Award

2010 Season Raised membership to 24 students Began partnership with Education Foundation Funded EARLY Robotics kits at Dickinson Barber Middle School Demo 2009 robot at Kemah on the Board Walk and is still being used for demos Demo at Dickinson Rotary Club luncheon to bring Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) awareness to community leaders Demo and curriculum at 8th grade elective fair Managed booths and fundraised for FORD Drive one for your school and developed a stronger relationship with the Education Foundation We helped and mentored  at the San Jacinto College FRC Rookie workshop and explained what it takes to be in FIRST Won Safety All-Star & Imagery in the Dallas & LSR Started www.gatorzilla.com website Wrote Hospitality letters for Dallas Donated books to Africa

2009 Season Gatorzillas robotics started with only 16 students Presented need for STEM curriculum and shop space to DISD school board Demo robot at DISD school board awards night and was granted robotics classes and shop for 2010 school year Awards presentation event with our sponsor Texas Direct Auto Won Rookie all-star at Lone Star Regional (LSR) Attended national championships in Atlanta, Georgia  Three Gatorzillas graduated and went into engineering or technology majors at: University of Texas in Dallas, UTSA, and Universal Technical Institute