History
FRC Team Phenomena 36l6 was founded in 2011 on the principles of teamwork, communication, and application of knowledge in the technical world - we provide hands-on experience. We are advocates for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Robotics throughout the State of Louisiana. Team 3616 builds character in its members that encompasses integrity, respect, confidence, responsibility and perseverance. In addition our members become equipped with valuable transportable skills such as communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration. It provides a challenging way of thinking and behaving that prepares students much better than their peers for the future.
Team 3616 started out with 8 members and 2 mentors. Our membership has fluctuated from 8 to 50. Several of our mentors return yearly, including some of our alumni. We’ve also gained a mentor from a STEM grant benefactor. Mentors are available to share their talents, provide encouragement and guidance as role models promoting positive growth and behavior. They communicate and model professional behavior/habits in a manner that it becomes second nature to members. Mentor professional backgrounds include: FIRST Alumni, Engineers, College Students, Research and Development, Teachers, Medical, and Visual Artist.
We train students in STEM/Robotics workshops open to other teams to increase existing members' strengths in Safety, Electrical, Mechanical, Programing and Woodworking so they become mentors to peers and underclassmen.
The team has to work with students in individual situations that aren’t always ideal. To accommodate this we do things like provide meals, guidance, encouragement, transportation, and homework help. In addition, we make accommodations for health issues, and students’ work/other extra-curricular activities.
Through our numerous community outreach events students learn various additional skills such as public speaking, and the value of giving back to the community. Members are taught “gracious professionalism - learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either.” Team members reach out to poor performing students in school to build their self-esteem and confidence to strive higher. To ensure all team members get the most of their FIRST experience, students are required to attend on-going workshops, participate in fundraisers and community events.
Periodically the team will reorganize the robotics room to ensure proper quality control. We distribute sponsor letters and pictures of the robots to ensure better quality control and distribute sponsor letters to aid with sustainability. After we’ve built our competition robot, a reveal event is held that’s open to the public and our sponsors to showcase the robot. At the end of the year we hold a banquet for our members, mentors and sponsors to review the year.