FRANKLIN — After a one-year hiatus, Franklin High School Golden Tornadoes Team 7314 has returned to FIRST Robotics competition, joining teams from 139 nations around the world. The Golden Tornadoes entered their new robot, Franklinstein, in the NE District Granite State competition during the weekend of February 28.

This year’s challenge, called “Reefscape,” requires robots to collect and deposit dodgeball-sized “algae” objects and 4-inch diameter PVC “coral” pieces into designated targets. Prior to the competition, the team spent four weeks building their robot under the guidance of four experienced mentors and two faculty members, Paul Chllds and Dave Pollak.

Dedicated Mentorship Team:

Chris Drever, the lead mentor and a senior network engineer at PSU, brings 18 years of FIRST competition experience. After spending 12 years with the Gilford team, he came to Franklin six years ago to help establish a new team. Drever takes pride in watching students progress from not knowing what a Phillips screwdriver is to machining parts within 0.003-inch tolerance. His philosophy of “gracious professionalism” emphasizes the competition’s unique “coopertition” spirit, where teams compete intensely but readily assist others in need.

Billie Strong, a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Dean Kamen’s company, DEKA, joined the FIRST community in 2007 with the Gilford team. As team captain during her senior year, she led her team to the world championships and later earned a full scholarship to WPI, which she largely credits to her FIRST experience. Now in her second year as a mentor with the Golden Tornados, Strong teaches students to use Autodesk’s Fusion software and assists with robot design. “I want to give back. It made my life,” she explained about her volunteer work.

Ernie Downes, a retired carpenter in his third year with the Golden Tornadoes, values the opportunity to work with his hands and spend quality time with his son, who is on the team. “Hands-on is the best way to learn,” Downes stated. His approach involves providing direction, ensuring safety, and then stepping back to observe and offer suggestions when needed. He adds that learning something new every day makes the experience even more enjoyable.

Pierre Guillotte, an automotive service technician at Benson Auto, has an eight-year history with the team—six as a student and two as a mentor. His motivation for continuing involvement is to “give back,” noting that “you can’t do it without mentors.” Guillotte credits FIRST with helping him discover his potential. He finds inspiration in seeing others make similar discoveries. “Robotics is the hardest fun you will ever have,” he remarked while guiding students through a troubleshooting session.

Beyond Competition:

FIRST Robotics supplements typical educational experiences, offering students benefits that mentors appreciate. Beyond the obvious rewards of enjoyment, skill development, and scholarship opportunities, participants forge lasting connections across diverse backgrounds. And, the experience cultivates self-confidence while instilling productive habits that serve students throughout their lives. Perhaps most distinctively, FIRST Robotics balances competitive drive with “gracious professionalism”—teaching students the value of collaboration and respect, even with rivals.