Mercy High School’s Robotics Team, the TechTigers 3654, had two consecutive amazing weekends competing in the New England FIRST District Event in Waterbury March 12-13, and the New England FIRST District Western New England (NE) Event in Springfield, March 19-20. The awards qualify the team to compete in the New England District Championships.
“What an honor to win the Chairman’s Award and to have been on the second-place alliance,” Sangita Ray, physics teacher and TechTigers mentor, said. “We are also so honored to have won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the New England FIRST District Western NE Event. We were also quarterfinalists and ranked ninth overall.”
The Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST. It honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition on the goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders.
The Engineering Inspiration Award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and inspiring others to respect science and technology.
TechTigers 3654 is one of the only all-girls robotic teams in New England. It was formed on October 25, 2010, at Mercy High School. Students work with adult mentors and team captains who teach the skills needed to build and program a robot, and to run a business.
The mission of the Mercy TechTigers is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills. Such skills inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership. 
The TechTigers are proud of their accomplishments, having won many awards, events and championships over the past decade: 2021 New England District Championship Chairman’s Award; 2020 New England District Championship Chairman’s Award; 2020 New England District Waterbury Event Chairman’s Award; 2019 CT State Robotics Championship Winner; 2019 New England District Championship Chairman’s Award; 2019 New England District – Western New England Event Chairman’s Award, and the list goes on.
TechTigers mentor and father of Mercy alumnae, Steve Ernst, pointed out, “It’s true that they’re an ‘all-girls’ team. But gender does not define their level of talent and abilities; they’re tough competitors. They are a superior all-around team.” Learn more at techtigers3654.org.
By Marie Kalita