Season History

2022: RAPID REACT
3284 was excited to return to in-person competition for the 2022. season. 3284 competed at the Oklahoma City Regional, Central Iowa Regional, Central Missouri Regional, and the FIRST Championship in Houston. The team won the Regional Chairman's Award for the ninth year in a row at the Oklahoma City Regional, qualifying the team for the Championship. The team was also honored to receive the judges award at the Central Iowa Regional and the Engineering Inspiration award at the Central Missouri Regional. At the FIRST Championship in Houston, LASER finished 21st overall in the Carver division and won the Innovation in Control award. LASER had the opportunity to continue running camps in-person to increase students' knowledge of FIRST and STEM. The team also had the ability to host and run expos, qualifiers, and meets for the FLL and FTC professions, increasing access to FIRST across Missouri. This year, LASER worked with Missouri legislators to propose legislation for STEM funding as well as requiring a mental health awareness training for all Missouri high school students. This legislation was supported through the inaugural Missouri Advocacy Conference, where teams of all progressions were invited to meet with legislators on STEM day at the Missouri Capital to support these bills. Also new this year, 3284 has increased its reach to international organizations to increase access to FIRST and STEM in underserved communities overseas. LASER partnered with African Sky, an organization to increase girls' access to STEM. The team, in partnership with African Sky, had begun the process of starting the initial all-female FIRST program at an orphanage in Cameroon. 3284 is ready and excited to continue progress towards the 2023 season!
2021: GAME CHANGERS - INFINITE RECHARGE
While the 2021 season looked different, LASER had great opportunities to expand the teams knowledge, support other teams in new ways and mentor the younger progressions of FTC and FLL Discovery, Explore, & Challenge in the Camdenton School District. In addition, LASER was able to support front line health care workers around the world, by fabricating 3,500+ face shields and other much needed PPE during the global pandemic. Throughout the season, team members competed in the at home challenges created specially for this season, and gained crucial skills in the process. LASER was fortunate to win the Chairman's award in the MoKan Region, as well as being honored with the Chairman's Finalist award at the Championship award ceremony. 3284 is proud of the 2021 season, and is excited to compete in next year's challenge!

2020: Infinite Recharge
​'umbra'

While 2020 was different than any other season in FIRST history, LASER was lucky to compete at a week one regional in Kansas City and showcase the 2020 robot 'Umbra' before the pandemic impacted the United States.  The team was honored with the prestigious Chairman's Award and the Underwriters Laboratory Safety Award. In addition, the robot ranked 5th overall. While the rest of the season was canceled, the team was still able to make an impact on the community and beyond, such as creating videos of team members reading books for children, and creating face masks for local hospitals and medics in Afghanistan. 

2019: Destination: Deep Space
'decennium'

In the 2019 season of Destination: Deep Space, LASER members were excited for the challenge before them on planet Primus. LASER traveled to the Heartland, Greater Kansas City and Central MO regionals where they were fortunate to meet many achievements. At the Heartland regional, LASER was honored to bring home their sixth consecutive Chairman's award, along with the Runner Up Safety Award sponsored by UL. Team member Maya Irvine also won Dean's List for her commitment to sharing FIRST and STEM throughout the United States. At the Greater Kansas City Regional, LASER was ranked fourth out of the 36 teams competing, and was then selected by the first seated alliance captain. LASER made it all the way to finals, where they played 3 hard fought matches against the second alliance. In addition to being Regional Finalists, the team also won the Excellence in Engineering Award, and the Safety Award. Coach Sherry Comer was presented with the prestigious Woodie Flowers Award for her commitment to FIRST and STEM education. At LASER's last regional, the Central Missouri Regional, they were the 1st seated alliance for the first time in LASER history. LASER advanced to semi finals where they were knocked out by fourth seeded alliance. LASER was awarded the Autonomous Award along with their 14th Safety award. LASER then traveled to the Houston World Championship where they ended in 14th out of 66 teams in the Turing Division, the highest LASER has ever ranked at a World Championship! LASER was then selected by the 8th seeded alliance Missouri team 4522 team SCREAM, and Missouri team 1730 Driven, to make the Show Me Alliance. LASER was knocked out in Quarter Finals to the eventual Championship Finalists. LASER took home their 3rd consecutive Championship Safety Award, and was honored to win the Engineering Inspiration Award. Due to LASER winning the Engineering Inspiration Award at the World championship, LASER has pre-qualified for the 2020 World Championship!

2018: Power up!
'Howitzer'

LASER was "Powered Up" for their ninth year of competition in the FIRST® Robotics Challenge. Kickoff day was filled with promising brainstorming, drafting and goal setting as LASER prepared to take on the challenge of FIRST® Power Up. LASER members were especially interested in the strategy required by this year's game. With the graduation of several key LASER members, a new generation of LASER is ready to Power Up! at the St. Louis, Greater Kansas City, and Oklahoma City regional events during the 2018 season. At the Great Kansas City Regional Howitzer was a Finalist and the LASER 3284 team was humbled to bring home our fifth consecutive Chairman's banner.  At the St. Louis Regional Howitzer made it to the Semi Finals and the team was honored with its 10th consecutive UL Safety Award and was proud to have earned the Engineering Excellence Award.  The Oklahoma City regional saw the LASER team in the Quarter finals and the team was honored with the Motorola Quality in Engineering Award.  The Championship in Houston was exciting as Howitzer was selected by the #2 alliance captain.  After three hard fought battles the alliance fell in the Quarter finals.  The team brought home its second consecutive Championship UL Safety Award.  The team is looking forward to blast off in Fall 2018 and be ready for "Destination Deep Space!"

2017: Steamworks
​'SpitFire'

 ​LASER had a successful season in their eighth year. The team traveled to the St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and the Lone Star North Regional in Houston, and to the St. Louis World Championship. The team set many goals for the season. LASER members worked hard to accomplish tasks and were awarded for their efforts. At the St. Louis Regional, LASER earned the Industrial Design Award and the UL Safety Award.  Coach Comer was presented with the prestigious Woodie Flowers Finalist Award for his commitment to FIRST® and STEM education. In Oklahoma City, 3284 joyfully accepted the most prestigious award in FRC® Robotics, The Chairman's award, for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, LASER received 3 awards from their last regional, The Lone Star North Regional in Houston, Texas. LASER earned the UL Safety award, Engineering Inspiration Award and was the winning Alliance Captain. LASER also won the UL safety award in the Carson/Tesla division at the World Championship. Along with LASER's accomplishments this season, they also collaborated beyond the FIRST® community. LASER co-hosted the annual Show-Me Robotics event at the State Fair in Sedalia, MO. They also displayed all four progressions of FIRST® at the Ozark Mini Maker Faire in Springfield, MO. The team also mentored a rookie robotics team from Knob Noster, MO by providing our practice robot for the team to use at the off-season Cow Town Throw Down event in Lee’s Summit, MO. LASER 3284 hosted the Mid-MO FIRST®​ FLL Expo as well as the Mid MO FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifier and a Mid MO FIRST® Tech Challenge Qualifier and meet. The team coaches were also asked to oversee the Central MO FIRST® FLL affiliate.  The team looks forward continuing to help grow ​FIRST® in an official capacity through the Affiliate title.

2016: Stronghold
​ '​​Ballista'

​In LASER’s seventh year, the team and their robot, Ballista, traveled to the St. Louis Regional, Iowa Regional, and Newton Division at the world championship.  At the St. Louis Regional the team proudly earned the Chairman's award, had a FIRST® ​Dean's List Finalist (Brenden Barbour), and earned the UL Industrial Safety Award. Then, at the Iowa Regional, the team ranked 7th and earned the Quality Award. After qualifying for the St. Louis World Championship the team competed in the Newton Division and one of the members, Brenden Barbour, earned the FIRST® Dean's List Award.  LASER  co-hosted the annual State Fair Show-Me Robotics competition, displaying all four progressions of FIRST® at the Ozark Mini Maker Faire, and hosted robotics camps. The team has also mentored numerous teams across Missouri, hosted the Mid MO FIRST® Jr. FLL Expo as well as the Mid MO FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifier and the Mid MO FIRST® Tech Challenge Tournament, and encouraged others to get involved in FIRST®. 

2015: Recycle Rush
'Rack 'em Stack 'em'

​LASER’s sixth year proved to be  success, introducing  new team members, coaches, and mentors. The Recycle Rush season brought the team many victories. At the Arkansas Rock City Regional, LASER was presented with their second Chairman’s Award as well as the UL Safety Award. When LASER competed at the St. Louis Regional, they earned an additional Safety Award as well as the Motorola Quality Award. Venturing to the World Championship once more, 3284 learned from the experience and hopes to return to the Edward Jones Dome once again next year.

2014: Aerial Assist
​'Scorpion'

​With the graduation of the founding team members, the new generation of LASER rose to meet the 2014 challenge, Aerial Assist. The students worked to involve the community throughout the year,  and recaptured their regional crown at the  St. Louis Regional. They defended their title and received the most prestigious award offered by FIRST®, the Chairman’s Award. After returning to Camdenton, the Camden County Sheriff’s Department escorted the team’s bus across the county line. LASER continued their outstanding season in Illinois, where they earned their fourth Safety Award. Thanks to their accomplishments, they  official FIRST® ​ FLL Qualifier event. 

​2013: Ultimate Ascent
​'The Patriot'

​In their fourth year, LASER continued to share awareness for STEM and FIRST® by hosting robotics camps and programming classes over the summer, as well as presenting at various conferences and exhibitions. LASER also co-hosted the Show-Me-State Robotics Competition, the state’s 4-H Robotics Conference, and several other events. Prior to the game reveal, members spent hundreds of hours mentoring and learning about FIRST®. LASER was driven after failing to qualify for the World Championship the previous year, and set a goal to return to the Edward Jones Dome and to represent Missouri on the Einstein field. They built a robot to compete in Ultimate Ascent as a defender, dubbing their machine, “The Patriot”. The Patriot defeated a full court shooting robot at the St. Louis Regional and helped LASER take back the title of champion at the event. At the World Championship, The Patriot made its way to finals on the Galileo field, ending its run as the team robot with an amazing close to the season.

2012: Rebound Rumble
​'Abrams'

2012 was a busy year for LASER; continuing to spread the word of FIRST®​​, they began mentoring over twenty FRC® and FLL® teams and presented at various events and conferences. The team spoke at the Southwest Missouri STEM Summit and hosted their own Central Missouri STEM Summit that was attended by sixty-five prestigious educators, state department leaders, state representatives, and community business leaders. Once again, the team held a kickoff celebration in their high school’s auditorium and were introduced to the year’s game, Rebound Rumble. They worked together to brainstorm ideas for designs, discuss the game rules, and elect officers. LASER built a complex robot that just fell short of taking the team to the World Championship. However, the team received the Gracious Professional Award at the St. Louis Regional and made memories that would be remembered for years to come.

2011: Logo motion
​'Jenny II'

LASER’s second season was equally as exciting as their first, having a year’s experience under their belts as they worked together in Logo Motion. Not only did the team have more experience, but they also increased their member population from 21 to 32 and they gained 18 more mentors as well. After their kickoff party in Camdenton High School’s R.C. Worthan Auditorium, the team immediately began brainstorming ideas for their robots. They worked hard not only on their robot, but strives to inform their community, schools, and other organizations about FIRST® and STEM. In Kansas City, at what many consider the most difficult FIRST®​ FRC® regional competition, they finished as finalists and learned from and listened to many of the other amazing teams that participated. LASER then went to the St. Louis Regional event in hopes of defending their title as champions at the competition. They were ecstatic when they achieved their goal, returning as not only the event’s winners, but also bringing home the Motorola Industrial Quality award and the UL Safety Award. Their victory earned them a spot at the St. Louis World Championship, where they were supported by not only their friends and families, but also by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Despite not advancing, the team had an unforgettable experience and had another astounding season.

​2010: Breakaway
'Jenny I'

​The LASER legacy began in 2010, when 21 eager students and 3 equally determined mentors teamed together to embark on their inaugural FIRST® season. The team had a Cinderella-like year, learning from both their successes and failures that the true way to success is through perseverance. They promoted FIRST®​ and were determined to gain attention as they competed at the St. Louis Regional. Though LASER struggled with mechanical issues, they listened and learned from their outstanding mentors and several other gracious teams in attendance. By just day three, the team saw major improvement and were chosen in alliance selections by team 1208, Metool Brigade- a team that grew to be friends with the rookie LASER team. LASER played through finals with its partners and pulled through in the last match, being the only remaining functioning robot on their alliance. Together, the three teams prevailed and secured their way to the World Championship. In addition, team 3284 earned the title of “Rookie All Star”, an award reserved for a first-year team that shows Gracious Professionalism­® and community involvement.