The Traverse City West Titans FIRST Robotics team (FRC #3767) is the competitive robotics program at Traverse City West High School. We compete in the FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) where each year, teams are provided with a new challenge and are given just weeks in which to strategize, design, prototype, build, wire and program an industrial-size robot, and then compete with it locally, statewide and, if we do everything right, internationally.
But FIRST is more than just robotics. We are challenged to run our team like we would a small business, which means creating a budget and then raising the funds needed to support our expenses. Our business plan includes a SWOT analysis, strategies on team sustainability, outreach, investor relations, and marketing, branding and communications tactics.
Guided by adult mentors, FIRST Robotics teams are student-led, giving team members real life skills that go well beyond the competition field, setting each up for success, whether it be college or career.
Members can be a part of many aspects, such as business, building, coding and CAD. And the best part is, no experience is needed to get started.