2017

2016-17 EVENTS

FRC® ROBOTICS TRAINING CAMP

LASER presented at the FRC Robotics Training Camp held at the Taylor Building - St Louis Science Center on December 28th in St. Louis. All Eastern MO FRC teams were invited to attend sessions.
UL Safety Training - Presented by Tesla Championship Winners LASER 3284
Chairman's - Tips, Tricks and Fun! - Presented by LASER 3284

LASER CHRISTMAS PARTY

On December 20th, LASER hosted their annual Christmas Party. The team set goals for the upcoming season, participated in team building activities, and played games to celebrate the end of the semester.

CENTRAL MISSOURI FLL® STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

On December 16th, LASER 3284 hosted the Central MO FLL® State Championship as the Central Missouri FIRST® affiliate. Thirty-six teams participated in the championship. Three LASER FLL® teams competed alongside teams from across the region. LASER 3284 member, Melissa Stout, was named Young Youth Mentor of the year for the region.

CENTRAL MISSOURI GO BABY GO!

LASER 3284 traveled to Kansas City on December 2nd to partner with Team 1939, The Barstow Kuhnigits, to assist in the inaugural Go Baby Go! event. The team built electric cars for children with disabilities that affect their mobility. These cars allowed many of the toddlers to be independently mobile for the first time. LASER will host a Central Missouri Go Baby Go! event in May with Lake Regional Hospital.

QUEEN CITY FLL® QUALIFIER

On November 17, volunteers from Camdenton LASER 3284 traveled to Nixa to set up the brand new Queen City Qualifier as the Central Missouri FIRST® affiliate. The following day, LASER members assisted in hosting and cleaning up the competition. Twenty-nine FLL® teams attended the event including 7 LASER FLL® teams. LASER FLL® team 565 qualified for the State Championship after winning the Champion's Award and tying for the highest robot score of the event.

ROLLA FLL® QUALIFIER

As the Central Missouri FIRST® affiliate, volunteers from Camdenton LASER 3284 traveled to Rolla to assist in hosting the Rolla Qualifier on November 4th. Twenty-one FLL® teams, including 7 LASER FLL® teams, competed in the qualifier. LASER FLL® team 570 qualified for the State Championship when they won the Research Award. In addition, LASER FLL® team 569 earned a bid to the State Championship with the Gracious Professionalism Award.

COW TOWN THROWDOWN

LASER 3284 traveled to Kansas City to participate in the annual off season CTTD event. LASER hosted a new FRC® team from Rolla, 6817 Ten Factorial, by delivering a robot to Rolla for the team to use, holding driving lessons, and a providing a student coach for the event. The team brought home the GRACIOUS PROFESSIONAL award. This award is voted on by fellow competitors, and is earned for professional and gracious behavior throughout the course of competition.

GATEWAY ROBOTICS CHALLENGE

On October 7th, LASER traveled to St. Louis to compete in the annual the Gateway Robotics Competition. The team ended regular competition as the 4th seated alliance. 3284 made it to the Quarter Finals at the event. LASER also hosted FRC® team 6817, Ten Factorial, at this event by letting them borrow a practice robot and providing a driving coach.

MID- MISSOURI FTC® KICKOFF

On September 9th, LASER hosted the Mid MO FTC® Kickoff for the 2017-2018 season. Various FTC® teams from around the Mid Missouri and Southwest Missouri areas attended, including 4 LASER FTC® teams. The teams are excited for the Relic Recovery Challenge!

OZARK MINI MAKER FAIRE

On Saturday August 26th, LASER went to Springfield to demo their robot and showcase the FIRST® progressions at the Ozark Mini Maker Faire. The Maker Faire is an event that allows 'makers' of all kinds to show off their creations and innovations. LASER was the showcase of the faire and invited several local teams to join them in demonstrating the importance of robotics.

MISSOURI STATE FAIR: SHOW ME ROBOTS

LASER hosted the annual Show Me Robots FRC® Demo on August 13th, at the State Fair. LASER hosted teams from all four progressions of FIRST® to build interest in the program. FRC® teams from around the state were invited by LASER to showcase their Steamworks robot at the demo which had over 350,000 attendees.

FIRST® NATIONAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE

Three LASER team members traveled to Washington DC to help change the culture so America will value STEM and FIRST robotics. They were accompanied by their coach and Assistant Superintendent. The purpose of the trip was to educate members of Congress about the need for high quality STEM programs to be available to all youth in America. Team members met with several members of Congress and helped make an impact to keep important 21st CCLC Afterschool funds in place that support many FIRST robotics teams and programs.

LASER YEAR-END CELEBRATION

After a season of hard work, LASER gathered on May 25th to celebrate the fantastic season of great ideas, hard-work and tons of fun! The team reminisced on all the great memories of the year. In addition, LASER members said goodbye to graduating seniors.

MISSOURI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

On May 13th, LASER 3284 went to the State Championships at Liberty High School in Wentzville, MO. At this event, 32 teams competed and LASER made it to the quarter finals as the 4th alliance captain. LASER's coach, Mr. Comer received the Volunteer of the Year award for his contribution to FIRST® Robotics throughout the state of Missouri.

WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP

From April 26-29th, LASER's High School team and all of LASER's FLL Jr.® teams participated in the St. Louis World Championship. The High School team was very proud to receive the divisional UL Safety Award, and made it to the quarter finals for the Tesla division. Additionally, all of LASER's FLL Jr.® won awards. All in all, it has been a successful season and LASER is looking forward to next year's game.

WEST CONFERENCE QUALIFIER

After LASER FTC team 5905 qualified by earning the host position, another Camdenton Middle School LASER FTC teams also qualified to compete at the District competition. The second team qualified because of their rank in the Southern Missouri Division. This competition was hosted on February 18, 2017 at Harrison High School in Harrison MO.

MID MISSOURI FLL JR.® EXPO

Because of LASER's belief in growing FIRST® students from the ground up, we hosted the 3rd annual Mid-Mo FLL Jr.® Expo. This event was held at Osage Beach Elementary on April 8th. 12 FLL Jr.® teams participated and shared their 'Creature Craze' knowledge and Gracious Professionalism®!

FTC® QUALIFIER AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNIVERSITY

On January 29th, four LASER Middle School FTC® teams went to the FTC® qualifier at the Show Me Center on the campus Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. This was their last open qualifier of the season. LASER was incredibly excited to compete at the qualifier and was proud of the community support!

FTC® GLENDALE MEET

On January 28th from 10 AM to 2 PM, LASER teams 5907 and 5908 competed in an FTC® meet in Glendale, Missouri. The LASER FTC® teams had a successful season.

FTC® SHOW ME YOUR BOT MEET

On January 18th, Camdenton Middle School's four FTC® teams competed at the meet held at the Camdenton High School. 5906 placed in 1st, 5908 in 2nd, 5905 in 5th, and 5907 in 6th out of the 10 teams competing. LASER 3284 hosted, ran, and sponsored this meet!

LONE STAR NORTH FRC® REGIONAL

LASER 3284 attended their 3rd regional this season in The Woodlands, Texas from March 30th through April 2nd. There were 28 FRC® teams competing. LASER won the regional as the captain of the third alliance! In addition, LASER was award the UL Industrial Safety Award and the Engineering Inspiration Award.

OKLAHOMA CITY FRC® REGIONAL

On March 22-25th, LASER traveled to the Oklahoma City Regional to compete alongside 59 other teams. This was LASER's 2nd regional for the STEAMWorks Season. During Alliance Selection, LASER was moved from the fourth alliance captain spot, to the third alliance captain spot. They later went on to become semi-finalists! LASER was also fortunate enough to be awarded the most prestigious award in FIRST® robotics, the Chairman's Award!

ST. LOUIS FRC® REGIONAL

On March 8-11th, LASER competed with 51 other teams in our home state at Chaifetz Arena. At LASER's 1st regional competition of the season, the team finished as the fourth ranked team and was the third alliance captain during finals matches. LASER was a Semi-Finalist at the Competition. In addition, LASER 3284 brought home the UL Industrial Safety Award and the Industrial Design award. In addition, LASER head coach Mitch Comer was named a Woodie Flowers Finalist Award Winner!

KICKOFF

LASER gathered for kickoff Saturday, January 7, 2017. The team instantly started reading the numerous manuals to gather information about this year's game, SteamWorks! After having learned the rules, the team broke into groups to discuss ideas and brainstorm strategies; full steam ahead!