Portfolio

Meet the Team!

OUR ROOTS

Wolf pride is hard to hide! We are Empowered Robots from Empower College Prep (ECP). We are the valuable scholars of RICOSWP, which are our core values: respect, integrity, compassion, optimism, stewardship, wisdom and perseverance.

This is our third year competing at a First Tech Challenge event, but all the team members are new and rookies to the experience. We are very excited because throughout our journey we have learned that we can make an impact in our community and at ECP.

OVERVIEW + MISSION

OUR TEAM

Empowered Robots is an all girls FIRST Tech Challenge team from Empower College Prep, a Title I school located in inner-city Phoenix, Arizona. This is our first year competing in FTC, and we are excited to learn, grow, and challenge ourselves as we begin our journey in robotics and STEM. As a new team, we are building our foundation in robot design, programming, and engineering while developing collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills. We are committed to the FIRST Core Values, especially Inclusion, Gracious Professionalism®, and expanding access to STEM opportunities for students who may not otherwise have exposure to robotics.

OUR SCHOOL & COMMUNITY

Empower College Prep serves approximately 750 students and is dedicated to creating opportunities that prepare all students for future success, with a mission that every student is college bound. Our participation in FIRST Tech Challenge aligns with this mission by exposing students to real-world engineering, teamwork, and critical thinking.

As a Title I school, many students in our community have limited access to STEM programs. Through our team, we aim to change that by making robotics visible, approachable, and inclusive for students across our school and surrounding community.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to empower girls to explore STEM, build confidence, and see themselves as engineers, programmers, and leaders. We believe outreach and inclusion are essential to growing FIRST and ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to discover their potential.

Our team meets twice a week to collaborate, problem-solve, and support one another. Through this experience, we have learned the importance of perseverance, communication, and teamwork. These values guide not only our robot development, but also our outreach efforts as we work to inspire others to join FIRST and become part of the robotics community.

OUR VISION

As a first-year all-girls FTC team at a Title I school, our outreach vision is to increase awareness of FIRST and robotics among students who may not otherwise have access to STEM programs. We aim to create opportunities for younger students and our school community to see robotics as approachable, exciting, and achievable.

We believe representation matters, and by sharing our experiences as an all-girls team, we hope to inspire more students, especially girls, to explore STEM and consider joining FIRST programs. For this reason, our slogan is “Empowered Robots, EmpowHER.”

OUTREACH

ELEMENTARY OUTREACH

When & Where: On-campus at Empower College Prep during a school-sponsored STEM event

Who We Reached: Approximately 50 students in grades 2nd –5th grade.

Event Description:

Our team participated in a school-wide STEM outreach event designed to introduce younger students to robotics and STEM education in a fun and welcoming environment. The event included music, interactive stations, and hands-on activities that encouraged curiosity and exploration.

One of the main activities involved building robots using the LEGO Education BricQ set. Team members guided students through the building process, answered questions, and explained how the robots worked. To create an engaging and inclusive atmosphere, we also helped organize a school dance for students in grades 2nd –5th grade.

Our Team’s Role:

Planned and facilitated hands-on robotics activities
Assisted students with building and problem-solving
Explained basic robotics concepts in an age-appropriate way
Presented information about our FTC team and future robotics opportunities

CLASSROOM SUSTAINED OUTREACH

When & Where: Weekly visits to sixth-grade science classes at Empower College Prep

Who We Reached: Three sixth-grade classes, approximately 90 students total in the 6th grade.

Event Description:

Our team conducts weekly outreach visits to sixth-grade science classes to introduce robotics fundamentals. During each visit, we demonstrate our robot’s operation and explain the strategies behind its design and gameplay decisions. Students learn about the robot’s structure, individual components, and how each part works together to accomplish specific tasks. Through demonstrations and guided discussions, we introduce engineering concepts such as stability, function, iteration, and problem-solving.

Our Team’s Role:

Taught robotics concepts through demonstrations
Explained robot design choices and strategy
Answered student questions and encouraged curiosity
Served as relatable role models in STEM

R0B3RTS Robotics Curriculum

R0b3rt’s Robotics Curriculum (Sustained Outreach Model)

To ensure our outreach at Empower College Prep had a lasting impact beyond a single visit, our team developed R0b3rt’s Robotics Curriculum, a reusable, student-led outreach curriculum delivered during our weekly sixth-grade classroom visits.

This curriculum transforms our outreach from a demonstration into structured instruction, allowing us to consistently teach robotics fundamentals, FIRST Core Values, and engineering thinking while building a long-term pipeline of future FIRST participants.

Curriculum Overview

R0b3rt’s Robotics Curriculum is organized into four progressive modules, each inspired by the interdisciplinary work of scientist Robert John Braidwood and aligned with FIRST Tech Challenge engineering principles.

FIRST TCG

To make STEM engaging, memorable, and accessible, our team created custom designed robot trading cards that students can keep and share. These cards help spark curiosity, reinforce learning, and provide students with a tangible reminder of FIRST and robotics beyond the event itself

Learn More

Ark of Learning

When & Where: Weekly visits since August 2025 at Ark of Learning Preschool in Phoenix, Arizona

Who We Reached: 33 preschool students ages 2–5 at Ark of Learning Preschool

Event Description: Our team conducts weekly outreach visits to community locations outside of our school to introduce early STEAM learning through hands-on activities. At Ark of Learning Preschool, our team works with 33 preschool students during two-hour weekly visits, introducing early science, technology, engineering, art, and math concepts through guided play and exploration using the LEGO® Education 45024 STEAM Park. Students experiment with gears, motion, and simple machines while building confidence, curiosity, and teamwork skills.

Our Team’s Role:

Planned and facilitated weekly hands-on STEAM lessons
Guided students through building, experimentation, and problem-solving
Adapted activities for preschool and elementary age groups
Encouraged teamwork, creativity, and curiosity through play-based learning
Served as positive STEM role models within our local community

Boys & Girls club

When & Where: Weekly visits since August 2025 at the Boys and Girls Club in Phoenix, Arizona

Who We Reached: 22 students ages 5–10 at the Boys and Girls Club of the Valley, through weekly after-school outreach.

Event Description:

Our team provides weekly after-school outreach at the Boys and Girls Club, where we work with 22 students ages 5–10 for one hour each week. During these sessions, students participate in hands-on building challenges and problem-solving activities designed to introduce engineering thinking in an approachable and engaging way. These experiences help students connect creativity and teamwork with STEM learning while increasing awareness of robotics and FIRST programs.

Due to limited financial resources, our team walks to both outreach locations (Boys & Girls club + Ark of Learning) each week, demonstrating our commitment to sustained outreach and community engagement despite transportation challenges.

Our Team’s Role:

Planned and facilitated weekly hands-on STEAM lessons
Guided students through building, experimentation, and problem-solving
Adapted activities for preschool and elementary age groups
Encouraged teamwork, creativity, and curiosity through play-based learning
Served as positive STEM role models within our local community

RECRUITMENT

Our team successfully executed a multi-faceted outreach program that demonstrates sustained impact, intentional objectives, and measurable growth of the FIRST community.

Sustained Impact & Outreach Objectives: Our team established a sustained outreach program through weekly visits to three sixth-grade science classes at Empower College Prep. This ongoing engagement moves beyond a one time interaction and allows us to provide high-quality, repetitive STEM instruction to approximately 90 sixth-grade students, building familiarity, confidence, and long-term interest in robotics and FIRST.

Recruiting NEW People into FIRST: Our outreach efforts directly resulted in the recruitment of new participants into the FIRST community.
- This season, we recruited three first time FTC students: Emmanuel Fernandez Holguin, Jayden Torentino, and Luis Felix Samano, who were not previously involved in FIRST.
  - These students are currently 8th graders and will continue their FIRST journey next season as members of Empower College Prep High School FTC Team #27398, strengthening the middle-school-to-high-school pipeline.
  - They became interested after we invited them to watch our lesson in a 6th grade classroom.
- Additionally, we recruited Mr. Maldonado, our Technology Teacher, to become a first-time FTC coach this season. He was not previously involved in FIRST, and his involvement expands mentorship capacity and long-term program sustainability.

GROWING THE FIRST FAMILY

Future FIRST Pipeline: through sustained classroom outreach. We introduced 90 sixth-grade students to FIRST culture and robotics fundamentals. Intentionally creating a pipeline of future FIRST participants as these students advance to seventh grade and beyond.
- We also introduced approximately 50 elementary students (grades 2–5) to FIRST through a school-wide STEM event, providing early exposure and planting interest in future participation.

Demonstrating Impact by Numbers: By the end of this season, our team will have provided over 19 hours of direct, student-led STEM instruction to 90 sixth-grade students, focusing on engineering concepts such as stability, strategy and problem-solving.

Role Modeling & Strategy: We use our robot as a show and tell outreach tool to explain design choices, gameplay strategy and engineering trade-offs. As an all girls team, we serve as relatable role models, helping students see themselves as capable participants in STEM and FIRST programs.

Current Season Focus: All outreach activities, recruitment outcomes, and student impact described above have taken place since January 1, 2025, reflecting our team’s commitment to growth and outreach during the current FIRST Tech Challenge season.

IDENTITY AND INSPIRATION

The Story of R0B3RT

Our Creative Process & Logo: To ensure our team identity reflected our individuality and collaborative spirit, we chose to hand-draw our logo. Every team member contributed sketches and feedback, transforming a collection of diverse perspectives into one unified design. This process was more than just an art project; it was an exercise in teamwork and consensus-building, ensuring that our brand truly represents our collective passion.

Naming with Purpose

Once our design was finalized, we chose a name with dual significance: Robert.

STEM Connection: The name serves as a playful and approachable nod to our focus on Robotics, instantly making our team relatable during community outreach.
The "Robert" Legacy: Each season, we research and celebrate an influential scientist or engineer named Robert. Their achievements provide a roadmap for our design process, problem-solving strategies, and outreach efforts.

Honoring Robert Braidwood

For the FTC DECODE season, with its focus on archaeology and uncovering knowledge—we are proud to spotlight Robert John Braidwood. As a founder of scientific archaeology, Braidwood revolutionized the field by moving beyond simple excavation to a multidisciplinary approach. He integrated biology, chemistry, and physics to uncover deeper insights into the human past.

Our team mirrors Braidwood’s legacy. Just as he combined multiple scientific fields to decode history, we integrate engineering, programming and data analysis to solve the challenges of the game. By naming our robot Robert, we honor his spirit of multidisciplinary collaboration and curiosity. Our robot stands as a symbol of discovery, reminding us that the most profound innovations occur when we look beneath the surface and work together.

Making STEM Relatable

At Empower College Prep, we believe that for STEM to be inclusive, it must be approachable. We use our robot, R0B3RT, as the friendly face of technology to reach students who might otherwise feel intimidated by robotics.

Breaking the Tech Barrier: During our weekly visits to 90 sixth-graders, we explain that R0B3RT isn't just a machine. He is a tribute to Robert John Braidwood. By sharing the story of an archaeologist, we show students that robotics belongs in history, science and the arts, ensuring students from all interest areas feel they have a place on our team.

Age-Appropriate Equity: In our Elementary STEM Outreach (Grades 2–5), we translated complex concepts into hands-on play. We used LEGO BricQ sets to mirror the multidisciplinary spirit of our namesake, Braidwood. By guiding 50 younger students through building, we ensured that every child, regardless of prior experience, felt the success of decoding a problem.

Creating a Welcoming Culture: We believe in meeting our peers where they are. By hosting Pep Assemblies and School Dances, we make “FIRST Loud” in a high-energy environment. Playing robot related games in front of the whole school turns our robot into a relatable school mascot, breaking down social barriers between tech and non-tech students. We can all learn.

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

Just as our robot design goes through iterations, so does our outreach. We applied the same Robert roadmap of research and problem solving to improve how we reach our peers.

The Passive Observer Challenge: Early in our sixth-grade classroom visits, we noticed students were watching R0B3RT but not asking questions. We realized that simply "showing" the robot wasn't enough to spark true inclusion or curiosity.

The Adaptation: Inspired by Robert John Braidwood’s multidisciplinary approach, we changed our teaching style. We stopped just showing demos, and started leading guided strategy discussions. We asked students to help us decode game decisions, turning a presentation into a collaborative engineering session.

What We Learned: We learned that relatability is the strongest tool for outreach because it helps to connect. When we hand drew our logo and named our robot a human name like Robert, it made the technology feel less like an enigma and more like a team member. This change led to deeper student engagement and more meaningful learning.

R0B3RTS Legacy

Our goal is for the Robert Legacy to continue at Empower College Prep long after our current members graduate.

Cultivating the Next Generation: By reaching 140 students through our 6th-grade and elementary programs, we are building a "pipeline" for future FTC seasons. We treat our weekly visits as "pre-recruitment," giving students the STEM foundation they need to join the team in future years.

Knowledge Transfer & Brand Continuity: To ensure our outreach is sustainable, we have documented our "Robert Scientist of the Year" research process. Future team members will have a roadmap to choose the next "Robert," keeping our unique "Robert-themed" outreach creative and evolving—a key requirement for the Reach Award.

Expanding our Reach: Next season, we plan to take "Robert" beyond our own campus. We are currently developing a R0b3rt’s Robotics Kit a set of lesson plans based on our 6th-grade science visits—to share with other schools in our district, further expanding our role as FIRST Ambassadors.

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