Interview with 2023-24 RoboLancers President Lilianna S., 284:

Q: Winning the FIRST World Championships is a significant achievement. Can you share with us the team’s preparation process and what winning this competition meant to you and your teammates?

A: Every year at the beginning of January, we (along with thousands of teams across the world) receive a challenge, or a “game.” We then have 6 weeks to fully design, program, and build a robot to compete in that game internationally.

However, the World Championship win this year in 2024 and winning the Impact Award (the highest honor a team can receive) in 2023 were not the result of just 6 weeks of hard work. Instead, these achievements were the result of the foundation that previous RoboLancers have built over the past 26 years. Without the efforts they put in – along with the work alumni continue to do – none of our accomplishments would be possible.

Personally, I am still in total shock. Out of 3800 teams, including many with more funding and state-of-the-art workshops and tools, the RoboLancers of Central High School took home the big trophy. I think for me, and for many of my teammates, this win was not something we expected, and it is still hard to believe. This isn’t just a win for us, though. Our win has put Philadelphia, and more specifically Central High School, on the map for a worldwide scientific community. We are so excited to use this attention to continue to advocate for accessible STEM education for our community.

Q: How has being involved with robotics and leading the RoboLancers impacted your personal growth and future aspirations?

A: The RoboLancers have already changed my path- the biggest reason I chose to come to Central was because of the robotics team. I’ve always wanted to explore STEM in high school and I’m very grateful and happy to have landed at Central. I want to go into aerospace engineering and this team has given me so many opportunities that high school students often don’t get- I’ve learned technical skills which will apply to my future career, met STEM professionals in a variety of fields, and so much more.

Being on the RoboLancers has transformed me personally in so many ways. I used to be terrified to speak in front of a crowd and now, I’m giving tours of our space to our alumni, news stations, and politicians. I’ve learned how to lead meetings, address conflict, give conferences, and manage a team of over 100 people. Additionally, this team has given me the opportunity to make an impact on the worldwide STEM community. The work the RoboLancers do spans not only our school and our city, but globally. This team has given me the opportunity to support other teams in other parts of the world in strengthening their own outreach programs so we can make STEM more accessible to all.

Q: Reflecting on your term as President of the RoboLancers, what were some of the highlights and challenges you faced? And how do you hope to see the program continue to grow?

A: Being the president of the RoboLancers was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever gotten to do. While the championship win was incredibly exciting, I think the real highlight for me has been witnessing the growth and development of my team members. Starting as a freshman and now stepping into my senior year, I have seen firsthand how the program fosters immense personal and professional growth, and it has been so incredible to be a part of that.

The RoboLancers are constantly evolving. I hope to see the program grow in size, talent, and diversity. Central’s mission to a life-long passion for learning, and aspirations to be thoughtful leaders of their generation closely matches with our own. We hear time and time again from alumni that weren’t involved with the team that they wish they were involved, so my aim is to raise awareness and encourage participation in our various programs, whether it’s after school with the RoboLancers or through the robotics class during the school day.

Additionally, I hope to see recent alumni come back to support Central and the RoboLancers to continue this incredible team, continuing the cycle of mentorship and growth that has been critical to our success.

Q: Can you elaborate on how alumni support or mentorship played a role in the team’s success, and how alumni can continue to support current students?

A: The team has come a long way from building in a single classroom a decade ago and that’s mainly thanks to our alumni. Alumni play a crucial role in the success of the RoboLancers.

Just this year alone, a donation from the 231st class allowed us to fully furnish our workshop and classroom space, giving us the tools and space to raise our level of competition. Other alumni support funded our travel to the World Championships, up-to-date machines, and so much more. Alumni support us in other ways as well, most importantly volunteering their time as mentors. Alumni mentors work with students in every aspect of the robotics competition. They teach us the STEM and career skills which make the RoboLancers successful as a team and as individual students.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to have a STEM background to support the RoboLancers, which is a common misconception we hear! The team runs like a business, so we would love support from anyone and everyone – whether you’re a carpentry pro, spreadsheet wiz, or logistics genius, we would love to have you on our team.