After months of tireless fundraising, the Cyber Tigers robotics rockstars finally made their way to Houston for the World Robotics competition—a win for them and the Swellendam community all its own. While in Houston, the Tigers pulled out all the stops and ended up becoming world champions!
Houston, Texas (22 April 2024) — From Swellendam to the world! Young robotics rockstars, the Cyber Tigers team made a massive mark on the recent FLL World Robotics competition in Houston, Texas, after they claimed the top spot out of all the participating teams for their Innovation Project!
For the Cyber Tigers team (Jean Mouton, Luka Steenekamp, Christelle Glatz and Lara Pretorius), this achievement was built on the ground of many others—including the big win that helped them get to Houston in the first place.
After winning the national robotics competition that took place in Johannesburg (a massive feat for the rural town kids) the team of bright minds were invited to participate in the big leagues overseas; an incredible opportunity both for them and for South Africa to showcase our STEM skills.
But, getting an invitation to the Worlds Festival was only half of the story. Getting there was another!
This entire year so far saw the team work tirelessly to forge and fundraise their path to Houston. From sharing robotics stories to singing, selling burgers and merchandise and eventually finding the right sponsors, it was a new flavour of challenge for the Tigers to solve. But, with the stakes high and the chance to impress the world just a flight away, it was a dream that could not be slept on.
So, when the team made it to Houston in time for the FLL World Robotics competition, it was a victory in its own right. And one that was so worth is considering their incredible results!
“It takes a village to raise a child and in our case to get a team to Houston,”—the Cyber Tigers.
The squad ended up taking first place in the FLL Innovation Project—making them world champions. Not only this, but as the very proud Pieter Steenekamp tells Good Things Guy, they also were one of five teams to earn more than won trophy after scooping first for ‘Gracious Professionalism’.
Pieter added that the learner’s lives, talent, and problem-solving skills are a gift to the school, town and land and give their larger community so much hope for the future, and we couldn’t agree more. A win for Swellies and for South Africa!
Sources: Cyber Tigers/ Pieter Steenekamp
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