16-year-old Airdrie resident Quentin Norris is one of two Alberta residents heading to Houston, Texas later this month for the 2024 FIRST Championship; an international competition in youth robotics. 

However, his recent accolades include receiving the FIRST Dean’s List Award. The award, which began in 2010 by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a non-profit organization that, 'prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18.'  

16-year-old Airdrie resident Quentin Norris is one of two Alberta residents heading to Houston, Texas later this month for the 2024 FIRST Championship; an international competition in youth robotics. (Photo provided by Quentin Norris)16-year-old Airdrie resident Quentin Norris is one of two Alberta residents heading to Houston, Texas later this month for the 2024 FIRST Championship; an international competition in youth robotics. (Photo provided by Quentin Norris)

"[The Dean's List Award] recognizes an individual that has a great passion and works to share that passion of robotics within their community. I was one of two people within all of Alberta who [will now] get the opportunity to go to Houston to compete for the full Dean's List Award," Norris added. 

The competition which won him the award was called the FIRST Tech Challenge. Norris explained that this competition involves small robots. 

"Each year, they release a new game where your robot has to complete certain tasks, such as grabbing an element and moving it somewhere else, lifting your robot off the ground and other different elements. This year, we had to shoot paper airplanes from the robot into specific zones." 

He added that one of the most challenging parts of the competition is the building of the robot itself, which can be a daunting, but fun task. 

"... Especially at the competitions - there are often 30 other teams there - and they've all come up with completely different design challenges," Norris explained. "The most rewarding part of it is being able to share my experience with others on my team and see them grow based on what I'm able to help them with." 

Norris said he has been involved in robotics for several years, being on four teams since 2109. 

"I've been able to share my experiences and my knowledge in a leadership role within the team; building up the skills of others while also participating myself. My team with my high school this year made it to provincials." 

When asked what the design and skills of his ultimate robot would look like, he said it's the teamwork that is embodied in the final product. 

"I think the ultimate robot is just an accumulation of your entire team's effort and being able to produce the most effective robot that's able to complete all the challenges within the game."  

Norris also has advice that those who are thinking of joining the robotics world should not shy away from it, no matter what their skill level. 

"They're often nervous and [think] that they don't have the skills to build the robot - and I say join anyway! Going through the program is what's teaching you those skills; you're not expected to know these things already and you get a huge learning experience just from being able to go into the program."  

The 2024 FIRST Championship will be held in Houston on April 17 and run till April 20.  

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