Honoring: Team 1629 Garrett Coalition (GaCo)
GaCo, based in Garrett County, Maryland, is a FIRST robotics team composed of twenty-two students from Northern and Southern High Schools. The team has consistently competed at the district, regional, and world levels and has been the recipient of the prestigious Chairman’s Award at eighteen competitions. In 2022, the team was recognized with the Chairman’s Award at the world championship. The Chairman’s Award, the highest honor conferred by FIRST, is presented to the team that has had the most significant and measurable impact on their schools and communities. In 2023, GaCo was inducted into the FIRST Hall of Fame.
To meet GaCo’s vision of “All kids-STEM Ready,” team members have developed and taught “Waypoint” lessons to every student in the Garrett County School system for the past eleven years. Lessons engage second, third, fourth and fifth grade students in standards-based activities designed to develop skills essential for STEM success, including spatial reasoning, proportionality, and computational thinking. More than 6,000 students have participated in these activities.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 7-9pm
Performing Arts Center (PAC), Garrett College
RSVP Deadline: May 1, 2024
Please contact Rhonda Schwinabart, UMCES-Appalachian Laboratory Coordinator of External Affairs, at rschwinabart@umces.edu or 301-689-7102 with any questions.