The engineers at Morris Hills are abuzz with excitement, and for good reason. The First Tech Challenge (FTC) Team, Knight Shift (numbered 17496), has garnered statewide attention with their outstanding performance at the FTC Championship.

On March 2, history was made at MHRD as Knight Shift joined the Alliance team that emerged victorious in the Qualifier meet for the first time. Their unwavering determination and grit not only secured victory among 21 other competitors but also earned them first place in the Innovate Award for their unparalleled creativity in bringing their designs to life. These remarkable achievements propelled them to the FTC State Championship on March 17. While this marked MHRD’s first advancement to States since the onset of COVID-19, Knight Shift entered the competition with a singular goal: victory. And they delivered, bringing home the prestigious Think Award, a testament to their ability to conquer engineering challenges through innovative thinking.

The FTC’s ranking system is truly distinctive, valuing not just the end result but the entire engineering journey. It acknowledges achievements beyond mere match victories, spotlighting the intellectual and developmental strides taken by teams. Knight Shift’s remarkable accomplishment of securing 7th place overall in the state is a testament to their exceptional talent and dedication. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the team consisted entirely of first-year robotics students. Krishna Chidrawar, Akshay Dhawan, Ruhi Kamdar, Anish Mahapatra, Divya Patel, Alan Qu, Premkumar Sethumadhavan, Aaryan Shah, and Sheil Shah showcased their exceptional abilities, leaving an indelible mark on the robotics landscape.