Congratulations are in order for Lower Merion High School's FIRST Robotics Team, Dawgma (FRC 1712), and their robot, Hertz.

Students prepped for competition by prototyping, fabricating and programming Hertz, giving the robot an extendable and telescoping arm, and the ability to swerve around the floor during competitions. Their hard work and ongoing collaboration with other teams during competitions paid off with a seventh-place finish and then a third-place finish at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Qualifying events.

And as impressive as their competition finishes are, the team members are most proud of receiving the FIRST Impact Award in recognition of their community outreach work to demystify and build excitement for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in other students.

Dawgma members have demonstrated their robots at LMSD's Family STEM Night, for scouting troops and at charity events, to the delight of their audiences. The high school students also mentor younger students in the District's FIRST Lego League, and bring STEM activities to participants in JCHAI, an organization that provides inclusive, supportive vocational programs and living options for nearly 200 adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.

The Impact Award automatically qualified Dawgma for the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships, which will be held at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena April 6-8, 2023.

Best of luck to Dawgma, whose students truly exemplify LMSD's motto, "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve."