Members from the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab in Philadelphia are preparing to showcase their work on a global stage.
In its inaugural season, the Tiger Robotics team (Team 10979) has qualified for the FIRST® Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston, TX. This milestone places our members among the top high school robotics teams around the world and marks an extraordinary achievement for a first-year team.
Tiger Robotics brings together 22 high school students from across Philadelphia who are members of the Learning Lab and committed to developing advanced engineering and teamwork skills through hands-on experience. Students on the team attend schools across the region, including Upper Darby High School, West Catholic Preparatory High School, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, and virtual learning programs, reflecting the Learning Lab community’s citywide reach.
Over the course of a three-month competition season, members designed, engineered and built Tinker Tiger, a custom industrial-scale competition robot created to perform in high-stakes field gameplay challenges.
Throughout the season, members demonstrated exceptional collaboration, creativity and perseverance. The team earned the Rookie All-Star Award at its first district event and again at the FIRST® Mid-Atlantic District Championship, where judges recognized Tiger Robotics as one of the most well-rounded rookie teams in the region across engineering, outreach and team operations.
“We’re incredibly proud to have established a community-based FIRST Robotics Competition team at the Learning Lab in West Philadelphia,” said Adam Mesewicz, Director of Career-Connected Learning Programs and coach of FRC Team 10979 – Tiger Robotics. “This team creates an opportunity for students from across the city, regardless of their background or the school they attend, to explore engineering, programming and business, and to apply those skills in a meaningful, hands-on way through competition free of charge.
Qualifying for the World Championship in our first year is a powerful reflection of the dedication and commitment our students have shown. It also sets the tone for what’s possible and serves as inspiration for the younger students who participate in programs at the Learning Lab and aspire to one day join Tiger Robotics when they reach high school.”
Fourteen members from the team will travel to Houston to compete alongside hundreds of robotics teams from around the world. In addition to competition, the event provides opportunities for members to connect with industry professionals, explore emerging technologies and experience what it means to be a part of a global engineering community.
Tiger Robotics is one example of opportunities offered at the TGR Learning Lab to help students explore their interests through hands-on learning and real-world collaboration. Throughout the season, members worked across design, programming and team operations, building technical skills while learning how to solve problems together and support one another through challenges.
Several team members also give back as Learning Lab interns, helping younger members start building robotics, coding and 3D design skills. These experiences allow members to grow as mentors and leaders while helping create new pathways for future STEAM learners in their community.
As the only FIRST® Robotics team based in West Philadelphia, Tiger Robotics represents an important step forward in expanding access to advanced engineering opportunities for local students. We are proud to see our members represent their community and demonstrate what is possible when young people are given the space, tools and support to take ownership of their learning.
Their journey to the World Championship marks an exciting milestone for members and a powerful example of what they can achieve together.
About Tiger Robotics
Tiger Robotics (Team 10979) is a student-led FIRST® Robotics Competition team based at the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab. The team brings together high school students from across Philadelphia who participate in hands-on engineering, programming and outreach experiences through the Learning Lab’s Career-Connected Learning programs.
In its inaugural season, Tiger Robotics earned the Rookie All-Star Award at both district competition events and advanced to the FIRST Robotics World Championship, reflecting the team’s collaboration, innovation and commitment to learning. Members design, build and program a custom competition robot while developing real-world skills in mechanical engineering, coding, communications and project leadership.
Learn more about Tiger Robotics at: https://10979.org
