Resolution 230505

..Title Honoring and congratulating the Central High School Robotics Team, the RoboLancers, on winning the FIRST Impact Award, the highest honor in FIRST robotics. ..Body WHEREAS, The RoboLancers robotics team at Central High School inspires and prepares the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) leaders in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, The RoboLancers was founded in 1999 and currently boasts 168 students, each dedicated to personal and collective excellence. The team has a 100% high school graduation rate and almost every team member goes on to study STEM at a higher education institution; and WHEREAS, The RoboLancers creates STEM opportunities for young people across the City of Philadelphia through initiatives including the Philly Robotics Expo and the Philadelphia Robotics Coalition; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Robotics Coalition is a nonprofit organization, founded by the RoboLancers, that builds STEM Equity by supporting 131 FIRST teams. The Coalition serves 1,500 Philadelphia public school students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade by securing funding, providing training and mentorship, and running competitions and workshops that break down barriers to participation; and WHEREAS, The student members of the RoboLancers have completed over 5,000 volunteer service hours this school year in furtherance of the team's outreach mission; and WHEREAS, RoboLancers students Maja King, Lilianna Sand, and Iris McLeary, with mentorship from Michael Johnson, Isriah Keila, Meghan Ho, John Capone, and Cordell Beatty, effectively measured and communicated the team's impact to judges in Philadelphia, at the District Championship in Bethlehem, and at the FIRST Championship in Houston, where they were awarded the FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award in FIRST, earning the RoboLancers a permanent seat in the FIRST Hall of Fame; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, hereby honors and congratulates the Central High School Robotics Team, the RoboLancers, on winning the FIRST Impact Award, the highest honor in FIRST robotics. RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the RoboLancers as further evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body. ..End