Group of local students making their mark in world of robotics

A team of middle and high school students from Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento are celebrating success as they recently advanced to a regional robotics competition where they will vie for a spot in the World Championship. The student group, which calls itself Metal Maniacs #20163, advanced to the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Northern California Regional Championship from Feb. 28-March 1 at Palo Alto High School. The student group consists of 14 middle and high school students from five schools in the region: Sutter Middle, Folsom Middle, Folsom High, Vista del lago and Cottonwood Charter. The group focuses on increasing awareness and accessibility of Youth STEM and Robotics Education programs in the area. Metal Maniacs members also recently orchestrated and hosted a huge robotics qualifying tournament at Folsom Lake College which brought 56 teams together. The upcoming regional competition is described as extremely competitive between seventh- to 12th-graders in the robotics league. Students said the competition is like a "D1 sport for the mind." It involves the students designing, building and programming a competition robot which then competes in fast-paced matches of 2.5 minutes. The teams are rewarded for their teamwork, strategy and performance under pressure. A strong finish in the regional champs can earn teams advancement opportunities, including a pathway toward the first World Championship in Houston in April against nearly 70 countries, according to the student group. Evelyn Ma is an 11th-grader at Folsom High School and a founding member of Metal Maniacs; she excitedly describes the success her group has achieved in the past several years and the support they've received from the community. "The ascent of Metal Maniacs #20163 is more than a win for a single team or a single student. This represents the growing 'Silicon Foothills' Youth STEM & Robotics Education movement championed by 14 local middle and high school students to elevate their community," said Ma. "Youth leaders paving the way for youths, thanks to the strong partnership and trust of Folsom Lake College and Playing at Learning. By empowering and cultivating pathways for technical talent locally, these students are building the foundation for California's future workforce."