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History

Formation

The Sciborgs were formed in November of 2002 by three teachers and eight students, at The Bronx High School of Science, and a Professor at Manhattan College. It was a rough start for the founding members though. When the team was started there was little support from the school as well as very little funding to run a team that usually takes $50,000 to run. The team had too few tools, too small a work force and, as is the way of Bronx Science students, a 2 hour train ride home for each member. But as is also the way of Bronx Science Students, the team completed their robot and went on to compete at the NYC regionals.

General Growth

With the new school year at hand it came time to recruit new members. With most of the original team still intact, they set out upon the school and recruited a new set of about eight students. The new workspace for the team moved to Manhattan College, a new teacher, Mr.Omoloju, had joined the team as well as new mentor, Jon Cook. With more students and growing interest the team began to expand. With sponsors such as the Bronx Science Alumni, The Hennessey Family Foundation, Con-Edison, and the support of the school and family the Sciborgs had a promising year ahead. After six weeks of work the team had created an award winning robot. At the 2004 NYC regionals the team reached the quarter finals and won the Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award for an innovative stair climbing mechanism.

Maintaining The Team

With the '03-'04 year gone, most of the original team has graduated and the team lost 3 mentors. But with every graduation there is a new freshmen class and of course new mentors. The team has grown in popularity within Bronx Science. The new year brought a multitude of new faces and skills, totaling over 60 members. The team's new strength and numbers brought a much needed boost. The Sciborgs shop was relocated to a shop room within Bronx Science. As the '04-'05 game was released, "Stack Attack", build season kicked in and once again , according to the rules of FIRST , the robot was shipped off and competition was at hand. The team once again climbed the ladder and made it to the quarter finals. But as an added bonus, thanks to great leadership and organization the team was awarded the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award for great business planning and organization.

Our First World Championship

In '05-'06 the team was a Force to be reckoned with in Bronx Science. Boasting over 60 members with more to come in the freshmen class. Not only had the sponsorship of the team increased funds to a $35,000 budget. With the new budget came a new mentor, Thomas Redding a colleague of current mentor Jon Cook, and many new members. In all of the outreach to local community centers and word of mouth the team recruited 2 core members from Hostos-Lincoln Academy for Science as well as two new 12th grade members and a multitude of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Work continued on and as always, starting in January and going for six weeks, the robot was completed to compete in the "Aim High Challenge". Along with robot building the team held computer classes at a local nursing home, Women in Engineering day and various other programs. The outreach program had increased tenfold and at the '06 NYC regional the Sciborgs were ready. Reaching the quarter-finals for the third year in a row was a disappointing blow but not for long. The hard work and community outreach had paid off, because at the awards ceremony the Sciborgs won the Regional Engineering Inspiration Award, allowing them entrance into the Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia. The Georgia trip was one for the record books for the Sciborgs. The first trip to the International championships and a long deserved trip after 3 years of dedicated work.

Returning to The World Championship

The '06-'07 year brought many of the same things as years before. New members, new mentors, more funding and more robotics. But this year brought all of that multiplied by two. With help from Sponsor Barry Weinberg the Sciborgs worked with their female colleagues to form an all girls robotics team to build, compete and share ideas along side with. Both teams worked together in the same shop space to create two unique robotics designs to compete at NYC. The Sciborgs competed at both NJ and NYC regionals. At NJ the Sciborgs were regional finalists thanks to their teammates and the monster defense driving brought by team captain, George Hsieh. At NYC thanks to their new sister team the IRON "Fe" Maidens and consistent community outreach they won the highest honor that FIRST awards, The Regional Chairman's Award, as well as making it to the quarter finals. Their sister team, after only 5 months in creation and many community programs held, as well as excellent performance for a rookie team, was awarded the Rookie All Star Award. These Accomplishments granted BOTH teams entrance into the Championships. Once again giving them a chance to compete in the International finals.