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Girls of Steel Robotics
Newsletter
Volume 12 #4
2023-2024
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Our Mission
"Girls of Steel empowers everyone, especially women and girls,
to believe they are capable of success in STEM."
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Welcome to the
Girls of Steel Robotics program !
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Our first 2024 competition was the Greater Pittsburgh Regional, a Week 1 event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh February 29 to March 2. The competition was fierce with teams from PA, OH, NY, WV, and Canada. We found that our robot excelled in all three key Crescendo game elements: Speaker, Amp and Autonomous. We were chosen for the playoffs by the second alliance (FRC 325 (captain) and 4611) and Dolly made it all the way through the double elimination rounds. We won 2 out of the 3 final rounds and qualified for the FIRST World Championship competition in Houston, Texas April 17-20. We did it!
Our second competition this season was the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland Ohio, a week 4 event at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center, March 20-23. We were chosen for the semifinals by alliance 4 at Buckeye and competed with FRC 4027 (captain) and 4467. Check out our page on The Blue Alliance for competition videos and results.
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Coming Up: World Championships in Houston! | The Girls of Steel FRC team qualified for the 2024 FIRST World Championships by winning The Greater Pittsburgh Regional at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on March 2, 2024. We were excited to be selected to compete with FRC teams 325 and 4611! Wish us luck in Houston! | | | |
Above photos credit: Official photos from the GPR event. | |
FIRST Tech Challenge Teams competed in two 2024 qualifiers! | |
Our two FTC teams, 9820 Girls of Steel Hypatia and 9981 Girls of Steel Lovelace competed on February 24th and 25th, at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Qualifier and the Panther Power Qualifier. Our teams competed against 27 teams each day. Lovelace earned the Design Award third place, and Hypatia made their way to the finals on Saturday after being an alliance pick on both days! This year was exciting to watch our rookie students go from no or little robot knowledge to doing so incredibly well at the competitions. The events had all of us on the edge of our seats in anticipation! Congratulations to all 12 of our girls this year! | |
Community Outreach Highlights | |
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Mt. Lebanon High School Workshop
January 31, 2024
We were invited to run our annual chassis project workshop with the Coding Gals club at Mt. Lebanon High School.
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Banksville Elementary STEM Day
February 16, 2024
Elementary school students had the opportunity to learn about and engage in STEM by building "meep boops," a little metal robot model. The students were excited to make something to take home!
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Friendship Circle Workshop
March 10, 2024
We introduced the kids to the chassis project robot kit. They built the chassis project and learned the inner workings of a robot and about how a robot comes together and all of the moving parts.
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Saturday Light Brigade Interview
March 16, 2024
At SLB Live, Aashi, Mia, and Anuva captivated the audience with their inspiring journey as women in STEM. They shed light on both the challenges and the immense benefits, and expressed their team's aspirations for the future, hinting at exciting new ventures on the horizon.
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We are so excited that our mentor Tim Angert received a 2024 Woodie Flowers Finalist Award at the Buckeye Regional Competition in Cleveland Ohio! This award is given to a mentor who motivates and inspires students. It also celebrates the eloquent and effective communications skills of a mentor. Only one mentor is chosen from each regional event for this award. It is highly deserved and we congratulate Tim!
FIRST teams apply here before April 16th to be a 2023-2024 FIRST Ladies Regional Partner. Learn more about being a partner here and access the 2024 FIRST Ladies information sheet here.
Some of us have already visited the Girls of Steel Robotics display at the "A Woman's Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh" exhibit at Heinz History Center.
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It is an interactive, thematic journey through women’s history from the early 1800’s to modern day that showcases the stories of entrepreneurs, activists, scientists, artists, and athletes. The exhibit chronicles “real life” Rosie the Riveters from Western Pennsylvania who worked in the mills during WWII. These Rosies helped inspire the iconic Rosie poster we used for our original team logo. AND as modern day Rosies, we are included in the exhibit. It is running through October 6, 2024. Check it out!
Check out the Girls of Steel Blog
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April: Autism Acceptance Month | |
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The month of April is Autism Acceptance month, which is sometimes referred to as Autism Awareness Month. This shift in language from awareness to acceptance—promoted by the Autism Society of America in 2020—is significant. While awareness reflects the need to educate the public about autism, acceptance goes a step further to embrace the autistic community as they are, with all of their strengths and challenges. | | | |
Read About Women and Girls in STEM | | |
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We always have additional expenses related to building the robot for competition, attending competitions, and running our extensive outreach program. Please consider making a donation online here to help our teams achieve success in STEM.
"Being a part of this program has meant a lot to
me as I am not only helping myself pursue a
career in STEM but also inspiring
other young girls to do the same."
Thank you!
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Girls of Steel does not discriminate in admission, participation, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, as a part of Carnegie Mellon University, Girls of Steel does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. Fee waivers are available for all Girls of Steel Robotics programs. | |
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“The most dangerous phrase in the language is 'We've always done it this way.' ”
-Grace Hopper
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Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
