Dark Matter 14374 is a community-based FIRST Tech Challenge team of 7-10th graders located in St. Tammany Parish which is in Southeast Louisiana. We are a competitive team within FIRST - the founding organization of FTC that advocates for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and promotes Gracious Professionalism.
FIRST has SUSPENDED THE CURRENT 2019-2020 Skystone SEASON AND CANCELLED BOTH CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTs.
We fully understand the decision was grounded in FIRST’s commitment to put the health and safety of our community above all else. Receiving the Inspire Award and advancing to the FIRST Championship is such an honor. What we learn is always more important than what we earn and we are so proud of what we have learned and approved upon this season. Thank you to our parents, sponsors, mentors and coaches for allowing us to have such a successful season.
As one season abruptly ends, the preparation for next season begins. We look forward to new team members, learning new things, and being able to get back out in our community to spread the word about FIRST at outreach events. Stay in touch with us on facebook and instagram to see what we are up to.
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This season, we’ll celebrate the evolution of our sports and activities that make us physically and mentally strong. As part of FIRST, we’re building a culture that recognizes the athlete in each of us. We know that when we move, play, and compete in any sport, we use our minds—our creativity, imagination, and critical thinking—as much as we use our muscles. Let’s work together to champion the strengths of every person who plays the game and gives us a reason to cheer. It’s time to be GAME CHANGERS.
It’s way more than building robots. FIRST® Tech Challenge teams are challenged to design, build, program and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge using an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, document their team's journal in an engineering notebook and do community outreach to earn specific awards.
About FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.
GAINS IN WORKFORCE SKILLS
The positive impact on FIRST® Tech Challenge participants is gratifying and well documented.
FIRST ALUMNI ARE
2.6x
more likely to enroll in an
ENGINEERING
course their freshman year
(than a matched comparison group of students)
OVER
75%
of FIRST Alumni are in a
Stem Field As a Student or
Professional
95% of students reported gains in TIME MANAGEMENT
98% of students reported gains in problem solving
The Game
About FTC & FIRST
Impact
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"FIRST® is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn import life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect – of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future." – Dean Kamen, FIRST® Founder