An Incredible Year for KDS Robotics

The KDS DAR High School and Middle School Robotics Teams are capping off outstanding seasons.

Only in its second year, the KDS DAR High School Robotics Team, known as “Top Hat Robotics”, just ended an incredible season with FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge), competing in four events, making it to the finals twice, and winning awards at three events. During the State Championship, team member Cati Epperson, a KDS sophomore, was named as a Dean’s List finalist for her dedication, hard work and commitments to the team’s success, which earned her a spot at the World Robotics Competition next month.

The Middle School Robotics Team also worked hard this school year and qualified for the state meet. Both teams collaborated to host robotics camps and the Last Chance Cup, a state qualifier event, on the KDS campus.

Even though the season has come to a close, robotics students won’t take much of a break. They will soon begin working on their project for next year.

The KDS DAR High School “Top Hats” robotics team earned awards this year for the first time in school history. Team members are, from left, Aiden Pinet, MJ Tucker, Gabe Allen, Thomas Boles, Ezra Keller, Cati Epperson (seated), Natalie Jones and Ian Johnson (seated)

Cati Epperson is one of only two Alabama Dean’s List finalists and will go to the World Robotics Competition next month in Houston, Texas.

The DAR Middle robotics team qualified for the state meet. From left are Bentley Pinson, Wesley Wilder, Gracie Jones, Roman Wilson, Case McCallie (kneeling) and Seth Jones. Not pictured: Sam Rice