Twenty-eight robotics teams from across New Hampshire recently came together at Plymouth State University for the sixth annual Governor’s Cup robotics competition. This off-season event allows high school students involved in the FIRST Robotics Competition to showcase their skills and creativity.

The Governor’s Cup is not just about competition; it’s an opportunity for students to understand the importance of working together on tech projects. Plymouth State University President Donald L. Birx emphasized this during the opening ceremony, stating that collaborating, acquiring valuable skills, and innovating lay the foundation for success in college and careers. In fact, the university became the first in New Hampshire to offer a Bachelor of Science in Robotics degree program in 2021.

This year’s challenge, named “CHARGED UP,” focused on energy storage and its potential impact on communities. Teams competed by retrieving and placing cones and cubes on a grid to charge up their respective communities. The game featured both autonomous and driver-controlled periods, and the objective was to score the most points to advance to the next round.

The Governor’s Cup is not only a thrilling educational opportunity but also a chance for students to showcase their innovative thinking and team-building skills. Doug Foley, President of New Hampshire operations at Eversource, applauded the participants for their unique solutions to the challenge at hand. Eversource proudly supports the Governor’s Cup, reinforcing their commitment to engaging students in STEM and highlighting the fun and rewarding nature of STEM careers.

At the event, three teams received the prestigious Governor’s Award, chosen based on their enthusiasm for STEM, team dynamics, relationship with schools and sponsors, and overall competition performance. Additionally, eight high school seniors were awarded individual scholarships to attend any institution within the University System of New Hampshire or Community College System of New Hampshire.

The Governor’s Cup also recognized teams with different awards, highlighting their outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values, safety practices, creativity, engineering aesthetics, spirit, and exceptional performance.

This inspiring event not only showcases the immense talent and dedication of New Hampshire’s robotics teams but also emphasizes the importance of collaboration, innovation, and creativity for future success in the field of robotics.

FAQs

• What is the Governor’s Cup robotics competition?
  The Governor’s Cup is an off-season robotics competition for high school teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and compete in a challenging robotics game.
• What was the theme of this year’s competition?
  The theme of this year’s Governor’s Cup competition was “CHARGED UP,” which focused on energy storage and bringing energy to communities.
• What are the criteria for the Governor’s Award?
  The Governor’s Award is given to teams based on their enthusiasm for STEM, team dynamics, relationship with schools and sponsors, and overall competition performance.
• Are there any scholarships available for participating students?
  Yes, eight high school seniors were awarded individual scholarships to attend any institution within the University System of New Hampshire or Community College System of New Hampshire.
• What other awards were given at the Governor’s Cup?
  In addition to the Governor’s Award, other awards were given to teams that demonstrated outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values, safety practices, creativity, engineering aesthetics, spirit, and exceptional performance.

Source: [www.firstnh.org/governors-cup](www.firstnh.org/governors-cup)