NM FTC New Year’s Update
Hello NM FIRST Tech Challenge teams!
I hope everyone had a Great Holiday Season and Happy New Year!
We are coming up on our Jan 8 Judging Practice. I only see 4 teams signed up for that; those are 10348, 14442, 16265 and 20334. If any other teams are planning to participate, please sign up by this Tuesday (1/4) evening. We plan to start at about 2PM to avoid conflict with the FRC kickoff in the morning. We will send details on how the event will work later in the week. Sign up at Events / Event Registration | NM FTC
The in-person Alamogordo Robot Competition Scrimmage is coming up on Sat, Jan 22. The event will be either at Chaparral Middle School or the Otero County Fairgrounds. Currently there are 6 teams registered. Those are 10348, 14442, 16265, 16308, 16845, and 20334. If any other teams are planning to participate, please register by Tuesday, Jan 11. Sign up at Events / Event Registration | NM FTC
We also need teams to sign up for the NM FTC Regional Championship! Currently, we have two advancement slots to the World Championship in Houston in April. I only see four teams signed up, those are 10348,16265, 16845, and 20334. We really need a minimum of 12 teams at the Regional Championship to make it work! I have been approached by out of region teams but have attempted to avoid that so far. We will do Remote Judging on Saturday 2/26/2022 and In-person Competition in Socorro on 3/5/2022. Please sign up at: Events / Event Registration | NM FTC
We will be holding remote Dean’s List Interviews on Saturday, Feb 19. Nominations are submitted through your FIRST Dashboard and are due on Jan 15.
New this season, FIRST is requiring all students (and their parents if they are under 13) be registered and have a completed Consent & Release in the FIRST Online Registration System. This is accomplished through the FIRST Dashboard. The paper forms have been phased out! Please have this complete for all of your students before the Jan 22 Scrimmage or NM Championship. Please let me know if you have any problems with this.
Finally a note from our Judge Advisor: FIRST is placing a greater emphasis on your team’s oral presentation this season. While you should still have everything in your submitted Portfolio, the team should emphasize details you want the judges to know in the oral presentation and not depend on the judges to ask about it after reading it in your Portfolio. This seems intended to make judging more similar to other FIRST programs.
I look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Jim Jackson, NM FTC Program Delivery Partner