The CHCA Beak Squad Robotics Team is heading to Worlds!

The team recently spent their Spring Break preparing and then competing in the Buckeye Regional, which was held in Cleveland, Ohio 03/30/23 - 04/01/23.

This small group of students has no more than one year of experience, yet has designed, manufactured, programmed, and strategized a world-ranked stellar robot. 

For the entire multi-day competition, the Beak Squad and their robot, OMAR, maintained the #1 ranking at the tournament. They led their alliance to ultimate victory as Regional Champions and earned a spot at the World Championship which will be held in Houston, Texas 04/19/23 - 04/22/23.

CHCA Beak Squad Robotics Team Head Coach Sarah Hendrix shared,

One of many things I love about CHCA is that our students have the opportunity to explore and develop all of their God-given talents, abilities, and interests. You will likely recognize Beak Squad Team members from their athletic displays on the fields and courts. You have likely heard music from their voices and instruments, watched them dance and act on stage, or admired their artistic creations on display.   

In the case of robotics, these students demonstrate, strengthen, and honor incredible God-given gifts that are often over-looked or easily dismissed. More importantly, robotics offers some of our students a place to belong and find purpose, even if (especially if) they aren’t a stereotypical "techie”. 

This past weekend I am most proud of our students not for being fierce competitors and hugely successful. Rather, they were servant leaders to 52 other teams from across the Midwest & Northeast acting with integrity, generosity, and compassion. They exhibited who we are and whose we are with exceptional character.   

In addition to their successful finish, the judges also presented the Beak Squad with the Regional “Quality Award”. This award "celebrates the machine robustness in concept & fabrication; the entire machine demonstrates quality workmanship, can withstand the rigors of competition maintaining functionality including use of designed-in redundancy and risk mitigation measures.  

This trophy & plaque will be added to the shelf next to the “Industrial Design Award” they won at the Miami Valley Regional two weeks ago. This award, also issued by the judges, celebrates the team’s “industrial design principles, striking balance between form, function, and aesthetics.” 

The 2022-2023 CHCA Beak Squad FRC #4028 members are:

Samantha Bennet, Levi Deardorff, Kaveri Easwaran, Josh Eng, Abby Fancett, David Manning, Preston McCoy, Mika Morris, Samantha Parker, Mac Qu, Chichi Quo, Gavin Reynolds, Carson Rueter, Gabe Stuk, Aiden Thacker, Austin Tran, and Nick Wickler.