The Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) Robotics Team recently participated in the FIRST Robotics Long Island Regional Competition at Hofstra University. OLMA was one of 55 participants and the only Catholic and all-girls school represented in the competition. The OLMA ladies were awarded the “Rookie All-Star Award” and earned a trip to the FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis, MO.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition. Each year, teams of high school students and mentors work to design, build and program their game-playing robots that weigh up to 120 pounds. Over the course of the three-day competition, robots must complete tasks such as shooting balls into goals, picking up and delivering gears, and climbing a rope to earn points.
“Strategy was so important, we decided to focus on a few areas and do them perfectly,” said Alexandra Jett, team co-founder. “We wanted to show girls that you don’t have be afraid of the stereotypes of who is involved in engineering. You can be a girl and do well in engineering, just like we did.”
Members of the winning team include Catherine Dowling (East Northport), Alexandra Jett (Northport), Tara Krumenacker (Huntington), club co-founder Victoria Gaylor (Northport), Katherine Mirabella (Kings Park), Shauna Fowler (Levittown), Gracie Schmitz (Lattingtown), Julia Sledge (East Northport), Natalie Patane (Huntington), Brianna Hines (Huntington), Grace Serpe (Massapequa) and Grace Hungerford (Massapequa).
Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a private all girls Catholic college preparatory high school in Syosset. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Our Lady of Mercy Academy strives to educate young women with faith, compassion and promise. Visit us at www.olma.org to learn more.
—Our Lady of Mercy
