Team History

The William Tennent Robotics team was hatched during the 2016-17 school year when a new superintendent came into the district and asked if we would be interested in starting a team at William Tennent High School. We opted to partner with the team from Bensalem High School, team #5401 in order to learn how a robotics team functions.

Throughout that school year teachers were asked for recommendations of students whom they thought would be good school representatives and had an interest in learning about robotics. They would travel to Bensalem each week to watch and learn about FIRST Robotics.  There was a list of eight students and their team was led by a group of engineers from Boeing Aerospace Company.

Their lead mentor was a member of the Bensalem School Board and had knowledge of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics programs. Once the season kick-off event happened in early January 2017, the practice schedule ramped up to 4 days a week of after-school travel and learning. The team would meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:00 pm to 9 pm and all day Saturday to problem-solve, design, prototype, and construct a robot that would perform the different tasks required for that year's project which was called "Steamworks." As we worked with their students, their mentor made sure that our students became a part of their team by giving them actual positions on the team just like the regular students from Bensalem. This partnership could not have worked out any better that year. The students met a new group of people that they would have never met unless this happened. They received a practical firsthand understanding of being on their robotics team.

During that season, the Fighting Robotic Owls were able to then qualify to compete at the regional championship at Lehigh University based on their standings in the Mid-Atlantic Robotics League. At that competition, they then qualified to go to the World Championship that was held in St. Louis, MO. We traveled with their team and participated in that event against teams from around the world during the competition rounds. It was an exhausting but rewarding trip. We greatly appreciate all the assistance the Bensalem Fighting Robotic Owls provided us and the friendships that were cultivated during that year.