Runnymede CI’s (RCI) robotics team are world championship finalists. The squad earned the prestigious title by virtue of its performance at the 2019 FIRST® Championship held the last weekend of April at the Cobo Centre in Detroit, Michigan. The theme for this year's competition was celebration of space and innovation.
Team 1310 from RCI bested more than 400 others from across North America that qualified to compete in Detroit. RCI won entrance by virtue of stellar performances at the Ontario provincial championships. At the worlds, they gained strength through the opening rounds of competition, eventually winning its division to move into the playoff round, where they stepped up their game and made it to the finals.
The team is made up of talented students from grades 9- 12, and led by staff Advisor Mr. Richard Yasui. “We’re just so proud of them,” said Principal Paul Edwards. “They worked hard and that effort was handsomely rewarded. But they also remained present throughout and I think truly enjoyed the entire experience and bonding as a team. That helped them stay loose, which was key for some of the more tense, suspenseful moments of the competition. It’s a pretty special group.”
The event was a major success for TDSB, Canada’s largest school board and a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Woburn CI also qualified for the elite event. The collective success of TDSB teams in Detroit, at Ontario provincials, and numerous other events highlights a commitment to supporting STEM initiatives that forecasts more good news in years to come.