Salem Academy Hosts Loki 2022 Robotics Scrimmage
FIRST Tech Challenge is a robotics competition for students in grades 7–12 who compete head-to-head by designing, building and programming a robot to compete in an alliance format against other teams.
Participants at Salem Academy competed using FREIGHT FRENZYSM and followed an in-person ruleset where each game comes with its own unique set of technology challenges. With FREIGHT FRENZY, there are multiple ways teams can use technology to assist them in the challenge. Teams may use the built-in technology, or they can come up with their own solutions to solve the challenges.
“It was such an incredible honor for Salem Academy and Winston-Salem to be the host site for the 2022 Loki robotics scrimmage,” Salem Academy Head of School Kris Porazzi Sorrells said. “This academic year’s regular season robotics competition begins in just a few weeks, and Salem Academy is looking forward to our tenth year competing in the North Carolina FTC program.”
“Women continue to be underrepresented in STEAM-related careers, but we’re changing that at Salem Academy,” Sorrells added. “Salem gives girls real hands-on access to science, technology, engineering, arts and math. We do so through courses and activities like robotics and STEAM camps to foster not just good robotics teams but well-rounded students who are highly prepared for college, careers and life.”
Eighteen teams from all over North Carolina participated in the scrimmage at Salem Academy. Awards were earned for robot performance as well as innovative robot design and effective use of coding.
Salem Academy has two robotics teams: The Sisters of the Motherboard (FTC #7444) and the Code Sisters (FTC #15333). The robotics program started as a club in 2014 and quickly grew into a formidable force. In 2017, a team from Salem Academy competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships and ranked in the top three percent globally. Both Salem Academy Teams have consistently competed in the NC FIRST State Championship. The FIRST Tech Challenge in North America and Mexico is a year-long program, starting with registration in the summer and ending with the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships the following April.
ABOUT FIRST®
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at FirstInspires.org.
About Salem Academy And College
Salem Academy and College, celebrating 250 years and built upon a foundation of empowering and preparing girls and women from all around the world to effect change, shatter expectations and lead. Exclusively focused on developing tomorrow’s health leaders and change agents in STEAM fields and liberal arts.
Salem Academy and College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college town known for arts and innovation. For more information about Salem Academy, please visit SalemAcademy.com. For more information about Salem College, please visit Salem.edu.
