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Barrow County robotics teams highlight season wins; student to represent Georgia at world championship
Summary
Students and coaches presented the Barrow robotics program’s season results to the board, describing regional and state awards, mentorship efforts and a student, Caitlin Larson, who earned FIRST’s Dean’s List and will attend the world championship in Texas.
Barrow County students and volunteers presented the school district’s robotics program to the Board of Education, outlining a season of regional and state awards, outreach and student leadership.
Program lead Lee Bain and UGA Cooperative Extension 4‑H agent Tiffany Coles described the robotics initiative as a student‑created, countywide collaboration between the Barrow County School System and the Barrow County 4‑H youth development program. Students said the program runs six teams across the district — three middle‑school teams competing in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and three high‑school teams competing in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) — and that teams split work into roles such as hardware, software, business and communications.
Students recounted competition results: FLL team 3085 won the regional championship and advanced to super‑regional competition; team 48816 won first place in robot design at regionals and advanced; several FTC teams were alliance captains or finalists at league meets; team 18597 advanced to state and finished 21st among more than 50 teams in Georgia. Program leaders said FTC team 18597’s student captain, Caitlin Larson, received the Dean’s List award and will advance to the FIRST World Championship in Texas to represent Georgia.
Presenters also described off‑field work: the FTC program runs a summer camp for rising sixth‑ and seventh‑graders; FTC mentors have logged more than 720 hours mentoring younger teams; students prepare a business plan and manage fundraising and outreach; and coaches named for middle‑school support included Todd Smith, Stephanie Keen and James Kelly.
Student speakers included team captains and role leads who described innovation projects (for example, proposals to map the ocean floor using solar devices attached to tagged animals and a storm‑drain microplastic catcher), robot design and programming roles, and an internal SWOT analysis used to guide program growth. The board received a printed business plan and one‑page summaries of accomplishments.
District staff and presenters asked the board to continue supporting the program’s collaboration with 4‑H and to recognize student leadership and outreach.
