At the SIUE Introduce a Girl to Engineering
Day, female representatives of Team 1208
gave a demonstration of our robot to promote
FIRST and an interest in robotics,
engineering, and science.
WOMEN IN
ENGINEERING
2014
The Metool Brigade promoted FIRST at the STL
Science Center’s celebration of National
Engineer’s Week. There, we exhibited the
Frisbee-throwing robot we built for the Ultimate
Ascent FRC Game, and then invited interested
children to drive it.
Engineering Career
week
2013
While showing off our mecanum wheel robot at
the STL Science Center, we promoted FIRST
by handing out informative pamphlets about
engineering to parents and students.
Engineering Day
2011-2013
Our team holds a design
competition each year to
include all students
throughout our school in
experiencing FIRST and
engineering.
Engineering design
competition
2011-2012
Engineering Career
Day
2012-2014
Team 1208 traveled
to the St. Louis
Science Center for
Engineering Career
Day, where we
promoted FIRST and
presented our
robot’s abilities to
aspiring engineers.
Team 1208 built a robot to throw
candy during our town’s annual
Homecoming parade. This gave the
O’Fallon children their first taste of
FIRST!
constructed
Candy-throwing
Robot
2011
Homecoming Parade
2011-2015
During our school’s Homecoming parade,
Metool Brigade members walk with our
candy-bot through the town, giving treats
to children and inspiring an interest in
FIRST for all ages.
To promote FIRST, the Metool Brigade
designed and built a robot to throw T-shirts
into a crowd. It threw more accurately than
human hands and was able to throw far enough
to deliver T-shirts to people in different
sections of a crowd.
T-Shirt throwing
Robot
2012
A few members of Team 1208
demonstrated what our robot does for our
local Cub Scouts. The Boy Scouts were
excited to see the robot in action and
responded with great enthusiasm towards
robotics and FIRST.
Cub Scouts Demo
2012
Book fair at carriel
junior high
2015
The Metool Brigade was invited by Carriel
Junior High to their annual book fair to
showcase our Ariel Assist robot. There, we
spread the message of FIRST by talking to
students and encouraging them to drive the
robot.
Along with Triad High School and Boeing
representatives, the Metool Brigade traveled
to Edwardsville to promote starting a FIRST
team.
Promoting First in
Edwardsville
2013
Team 1208 attended
FIRST Friday at the
STL Science Center
where we demonstrated
our robot to children and
their families.
FIRST Friday
2013
Archon Science
Fair Convention
2014-2015
We attended the Sci-Fi
convention in order to
inspire young people to
participate in FIRST.
Team 1208 and other St. Louis area FRC
teams gathered at the St. Louis Science
Center show each other our robots and our
accomplishments from the past season.
Through this connection within the FIRST
community, we all bonded over our
incomparable experience in FRC
Competitions.
FRC Alliance Open
House
2012
Recruited three
fll teams
2015
The Metool Brigade held conferences with
parents and school administrators at Belle
Valley, Worden, and Eureka to establish FLL
teams within the schools.
Open house
2011-2015
The team held an Open House at OTHS in order
to form valuable relationships with students,
parents, and other community members. By
interacting with us and our robot, all of O’Fallon
could experience FIRST and see our dedication
and passion towards the program.
Freshman Fair
2011-2015
Through our school’s Freshman Fair, we try to
recruit the new underclassmen to join
Robotics by handing out informational packets
promoting FIRST and allowing the students to
interact with the past year’s robot.
Championship
Assistance
2013
At the FIRST World Championship, we
provided batteries, tables, and carts to teams
from Israel who couldn’t transport them to the
competition themselves.
Channel one News
2012
In order to promote
FIRST, Team 1208
contacted Channel One
News, a national news
source that specifically
targets students of all
ages. The Channel One
crew came to the FIRST
Championship in
St. Louis and
interviewed members of
our team, which spread
the FIRST message to
students across
the country.
Moye Robo-Demo
2012
The Metool Brigade
visited Moye
Elementary School in
O’Fallon, Illinois, to
give a robotics
presentation during a
school assembly. Our
demonstration inspired
many of the children to
join Lego League
teams, and this
educated many
students and faculty
about FIRST.
STEM Camporee
2012
The Metool Brigade traveled
to Scott Air Force Base and
participated in a STEM
Camporee, where we
demonstrated our Rebound
Rumble robot which could
shoot 8in foam basketballs.
O’FallOn PrOgress
Articles
2011-2015
For the past eleven years, the OTHS Robotics
team has been featured in articles in the local
newspaper. These articles discuss our
accomplishments throughout our seasons and
they spark an interest in FIRST within the
community.
FRC Kickoff
2011-2013
Excited for the upcoming FIRST FRC
competition season, select Metool Brigade
members traveled to the St. Louis Science
Center to participate in the FRC Kickoff.
Afterwards, the members returned to OTHS to
strategize with the rest of our team.
FRC Demo at FLL and
FTC Kickoff
2011
The Metool Brigade
traveled to Florissant
Valley Community
College for the FLL and
FTC Kickoff. There, we
demonstrated our robot’s functions to
fascinated young competitors, promoting an
stronger interest in FIRST.
Hazelwood Demo
2011
Team 1208 took part in Hazelwood Central’s
Open House by giving a demonstration of the
2011 game robot, talking to other participants,
and mentoring younger teams. City council
members observed all that the Metool Brigade
did that day.
Mcalister’s
Fundraiser
2011-2012
The Metool
Brigade held a
fundraiser at
our local
McAlister’s Deli
and invited community members to come from
5-8 PM that evening and support the team.
While they ate, we
passed out flyers
and shared our
enthusiasm about
robotics and
FIRST.
Scifest
2011
To spread the message of FIRST, Team 1208
participated in SciFest, a six-day celebration
of science and technology at our science
center. We handed out
informational flyers,
talked to parents about
FIRST, and encouraged
children to drive the
robot.
Gift Wrapping at
Barnes and Noble
2011
The OTHS
Robotics team
spread holiday
cheer, promoted
FIRST, and raised
$250 for the
upcoming
competition
season by
wrapping gifts at
the local Barnes
and Noble for
members of the
O’Fallon
community.
Orange Leaf
fundraiser
2012
By partnering with our local Orange Leaf, the
Metool Brigade raised $100 to use towards
robotics. Through this experience, we were
able to promote FIRST within the community
while also enjoying delicious ice cream.
Mentored 4 FLL
Teams
2013
Team 1208 mentored FLL
Team 2081, Team 2082,
Team 7341 and Team
10609 and gave them
advice on how to succeed
in the FLL challenge. By working with them,
we hope to have inspired them to continue
participating in
FIRST
throughout the
rest of their
school careers.
FLL volunteering
At Carriel jr. high
2015
At our local Carriel Junior High, the Metool
Brigade helped referee, time, set up the field,
and judge during two FLL competitions
FRC ALLIANCE
Pre-season Workshop
2015
To show our support for FIRST, Team 1208
hosted the annual FRC Alliance Pre-Season
workshop. In
addition to
organizing and
publicizing the
event, we were
in charge of
running it. This meant scheduling everything,
recruiting presenters, and coordinating the
function with the STL Science Center.
Pre-Season
Training Program
2013
By attending 5 training programs at the
St. Louis Science Center, we supported FIRST
and expanded the arsenal of information we
had to improve future seasons.
Mentored 8 FRC
Teams
2014
OTHS Robotics
members mentored
FRC Teams 3686,
4246, 4232, 4500,
4493, 5362, and
5583 and helped them navigate the ins and
outs of competing in FIRST, from establishing
team positions to
building their robots.
We try to help them
prepare as best as
we can.
Superintendent
Meeting
2015
Team 1208’s coach, Mr. Eric Curry, met with 3
area school superintendents to initiate
starting FLL and FRC teams in their schools.
Rookie Team
Workshop
2012-2013
The Metool Brigade helped teams from the
STL Science Center, Paducah, Oakville, and
Mount Vernon to develop more effective
design and technique methods to improve
their robots’ overall performance. We used our
“Shaquille O’Wheel” robot as an example to
help us explain what we were telling them.
FRC Build Season
Mini-Workshops
2012-2013
The Metool Brigade, unafraid to help,
organized mini-workshops at the St. Louis
Science Center to help rookie teams build
their robots. We came every Sunday without
fail and helped many teams throughout the
build season.
FRC Post-Kickoff
inventory
2011-2015
Team 1208 hosted a post-Kickoff inventory
session in which we helped 8 rookie teams
identify and count parts.
Alpha Testing
2013-2014
Chosen as one of nine of 2600 teams to
participate, we were able to evaluate the new
control system to be used in the 2015 season.
FLL volunteering
At Brittany Woods
2015
The Metool Brigade
traveled to Brittany
Woods Junior High in
University City, MO.
There, we helped with
refereeing, timing,
setting up the field, and
judging an FLL
competition.
Lego league
mentoring
2012-2015
Members of the Metool Brigade helped several
local FLL teams by providing programming
instruction.
Officer in st. louis
frc alliance
2013
The Metool Brigade’s coach, Mr. Eric Curry, is
an officer in the St. Louis FRC Alliance. He is
in charge of scheduling and planning St. Louis
FRC Alliance activities.
Mentor on FRC Regional
Planning Committee
2011-2015
This season, our coach, Mr. Eric
Curry, is a member of the FRC
Regional Planning Committee. He
volunteers his time to make sure
that the Regional will run as
smoothly as possible, and be an
enjoyable experience for all in
`attendance.
Rookie Survival Guide To
The St. Louis
Regional
2011-2015
Team 1208 has
repeatedly published
a Rookie’s Guide to
the St. Louis
Regional to send to
the rookie teams
who would be
attending in order to
help them survive
the competition.
St. louis guide for
frc championship
2011-2015
To enhance the championship experience for
all of the out-of-state teams, we created an
informational booklet about the city of
St. Louis and the FIRST St. Louis
Championship.
Mentored Maryville
fll team
2015
Some of the members of Metool Brigade
repeatedly went to St. John’s church in
Maryville, Illinois, to help their FLL team with
programming the robot and to give them
advice. Under our tutelage, they made it all
the way to the state championship!
First lego league
qualifier volunteering
2012-2015
Team 1208 went to
Bishop Dubourg High
School to help with
keeping time,
delivering scores to the
score table, and
advising team
ambassadors at a
FIRST Lego
League Qualifier.
Field set up and
tear down at
st. louis regional
2012
To support FIRST, Team 1208 volunteered our
time to help set up and tear down the
competition arena at the 2012 St. Louis
Regional.
Kop handout at
st. louis regional
2012
One of Team 1208’s mentors helped distribute
the KOP to participating teams, ensuring that
each received all the parts they were
supposed to and that they understood how to
use each one.
No robot left
Behind
2012-2013
Team 1208 took part in No Robot Left Behind,
a program organized by Chief Delphi for
veteran teams to help less-experienced teams
and make sure that they had a working robot
for competition. This included making sure
these robots would work during autonomous.
Frc Training Camp
2013
The Metool Brigade hosted an FRC training
camp for local robotics teams, where we
explained the components of the RoboRio and
how it operates so that all teams would
understand the new “brain.”
Afcea technet
summer convention
2012
Over the summer, we spread the message of
FIRST by having one of our mentors and some
of our team members attend the Armed Forces
Communications and Electronic Association
TechNet Convention to present our robots to
interested attendees. We explained how they
work and how FRC competitions dictate the
functions of robots.
Frc kickoff
2011-2015
After Kickoff at Clayton High School, all
members of Team 1208 met to brainstorm
strategies and robot designs for the newly
revealed game.
Volunteered at ftc
Missouri
championships
2012
In support of FIRST, members of the Metool
Brigade volunteered to help with everything
from timing to room monitoring during FTC
Missouri Championships.
FRC Pre-Kickoff
Training Camp
2011-2015
In conjunction with Team 1094, the Metool
Brigade promoted FIRST by presenting
information on robot construction and team
management to local robotics teams at
Gateway Tech High School’s robotics training
camp.
Beta Testing
2011-2012
Team 1208 volunteered to test various
components of the new control system, which
would be used in the 2013 season, to find any
flaws in it that could hinder upcoming
competitions. Also, we provided valuable
information to local teams about the system.
FLL eastern Missouri
Championship
2012
To support FIRST,
we volunteered at
the FLL Eastern
Missouri
Championship in
St. Louis. We helped make the event run as
smoothly as possible, assisting in judging,
setting up, and
refereeing, which
made it a memorable
experience for all of
the children.
Mentors
Volunteering at
Championship
2011-2015
Our mentors have
donated hundreds of
hours to further the
message of FIRST by
volunteering as robot
inspectors at the
FIRST Championships.
Certification of
all team members
2011-2015
To become a member of Team 1208, each student
must earn his or her certification. One must pass a
general test, be able to turn the robot on and off,
and gain an understanding of each division’s
technical aspects through a division-specific
process. All of this ensures that each team
member can contribute greatly to the team.
Congratulations!
(Team member’s name)
Has completed the requirements to be a
certified Member of the ____ Team!
You are now officially a
member of team 1208
Student officer
organization plan
2011-2015
As part of the officer qualification process,
students must be enrolled in Advanced
Honors Physics II, our school’s most rigorous
physics course, and continue to show active
participation throughout the robotics season.
Each student applies for a position that best
suits his or her ability to serve the Metool
Brigade.
First incorporated
into oths Curriculum
2011-2015
Since 2003, we have strived to incorporate
FIRST into the Honors Physics II curriculum.
Each Friday of the first semester, in addition
to the entire third quarter, is dedicated to
working on the robot and behind the scenes
administrative business.
NASA Speaker
2015
Team 1208 invited Dr. Roosevelt
Johnson from NASA to give an
inspiring speech to students
currently enrolled in the physics program at
OTHS. He encouraged students to pursue
careers in
STEM fields,
especially
within NASA.
Business plan
2011-2015
Every year, Team 1208’s Chief Executive
Officer is in charge of creating a business
plan that encompasses our expected revenue
and expenses for each robotics competition
season.
Drive one 4 your
school
2011-2015
In order to raise money for the build season,
Team 1208 held our annual Drive One 4 Your
School fundraiser, where parents and other
adults came to test drive the newest cars out
on the market.
Pancake
breakfast
2013-2015
The OTHS Robotics Team organized an
unlimited pancake breakfast to raise money
for the build season. We promoted FIRST by
talking to everyone in attendance while they
ate.
Pancake Breakfast 2014
Car wash
2011-2015
Team 1208 bonds together each year over a car
wash fundraiser. We spend time washing and
drying vehicles for
community members
while we have fun with
one another.
Mr. irresistible
2011-2015
For five years, Team
1208 has sponsored a
participant in Mr.
Irresistible, O’Fallon
Township’s comedic
male pageant,
helping to get
information to the
rest of the
student body about
robotics and FIRST. It
also helps us bond as
a team.
Rummage sale
2011-2015
After gathering
clothing, household
items, and other
donations from
throughout our
community, Team 1208
held a rummage sale
to raise money for
the season.
ornament sales
2011-2013
Since the
beginning of
the Metool
Brigade, we have sold custom ornaments to
members of our community, raising hundreds
of dollars for our team.
Kickoff party
2011-2015
‘Twas the night
before Kick-off, and
all through the place,
Team 1208 partied at
a very fast pace. At
the home of a
mentor, we danced
and we played. There
was food and games
and even an arcade.
At this gathering, we
had lots of fun, the
night before the real
games had begun.
Rummage Sale
2011-2012
In October, we
hold our annual
rummage sale at
OTHS. The event
is made possible
by donations from
parents and team
members that include everything from used
books to appliances.
Community members show
up early on Saturday
morning to see what they
can discover.
Led Light Bulb
Fundraiser
2011-2013
In November 2012, team members sold 100
FIRST LED light bulbs; which come with five
year warranty, are dimmable up to 5%, last
22.8 years, and cast a softer light than
traditional bulbs.
New Workroom Design
and construction
2012
To improve team
efficiency, we turned
an unused classroom
into a separate
workroom, which we
deemed “The Bot
Cave”.
Trivia nIGht/Silent
Auction
2011-2015
During Team 1208’s annual Trivia Night/Silent
Auction, teams challenge their wits in spirited
competition
while others bid
on items in the
auction. All
profits raised
during the
auction went
towards funding
the Metool Brigade’s build season.
100 YEARS OF
SCOUTING
2014
In conjunction
with a Catholic
Boy Scouts
group, Team
1208 traveled to
the Our Lady of
the Snows
Shrine, where we promoted an interest in
engineering through demonstrations of our
robot and our interaction with the children.
Pennies for
patients
2013-2015
While coordinating with the Pennies for
Patients Program, the Metool Brigade raised
$1,000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
to help fund research to find a cure.
Wounded
warriors drive
2013-2014
An example of our contributions to the
community involves the Wounded Warriors
Program, through which each robotics team
member donated life essentials to soldiers
who were injured while serving our country.
Crayon and coloring
book drive
2014
Hoping to provide
entertainment for the
sick children at
St. Louis Children’s
Hospital, the Metool
Brigade collected
crayons and coloring books to give them,
bringing happiness to
kids and their families
in our Metro-East area.
Adopt a family
Christmas drivE
2012-2013
In the spirit of
giving, team
members
donated money
to go towards
gifts, such as
clothing and
games, to a
family in need
for Christmas.
Benefit for Barbara
Hamilton
2013
Team 1208 worked with a student group to
organize a benefit for Barbara Hamilton, a
local woman fighting brain cancer, who
greatly appreciated our support.
siMMs’ hOuse
clean up
2012
When a fellow
student’s house
burned down,
our team wanted
to help in every
way possible. We saved
personal mementos, took
photographs for the
insurance company, and
salvaged everything we
could.
Book drive
2012 and 2015
Members of the Metool Brigade worked with
our school’s National Honor Society to set up
a book drive. Students each brought in three
or more books to donate to OTHS’s feeder
schools.
Troop care packages
2011-2013
In the name of FIRST, the Metool Brigade has
sponsored a service project to send care
packages to deployed troops. Additionally, our
entire high school participated by donating
items to send to deployed soldiers.
Food drive
2012-2013
In hopes of improving the
holidays for families in need, Team 1208
collected hundreds of items to donate to
our town’s food pantry.
Shoes for Haiti
2012
In conjunction with OTHS, the Metool Brigade
collected around one hundred pairs of shoes
to send to the previously earthquake-stricken
Haiti.
Red out
2011
Robotics Team 1208 participated in our
school’s Red Out basketball game and sold
t-shirts to raise money for the American Heart
Association.
Sponsored trip to
Haiti
2011
To share FIRST worldwide, the Metool Brigade
sponsored a team member to go to Haiti on a
mission trip. She shared FIRST with the
Haitians when she personally delivered the
calculators and coloring books.
Haiti calculator
drive
2011
Following the devastating
earthquake in Haiti, the Metool
Brigade set up a calculator drive,
which collected over four hundred
calculators for the underprivileged
Haitian children.
Coloring books
for Haiti
2011
Team 1208 created a coloring book to donate
to the children of Haiti; these were presented
to the kids by a Metool Brigade member on a
mission trip. These books inspire hope among
the kids whose country has yet to recover
fully from the devastating earthquakes.
The game
2015
This year’s game is Recycle Rush, which
consists of stacking totes, tubs, and
manipulating pool noodles, known as “litter,” in
an alliance with two other teams. There are
three parts: an autonomous period, where the
robot operates without a driver, a manual
portion with operation control, and a
coopertition period that involves stacking totes
together with our opponents.
Ftc kickoff
2013
As a sponsor for FTC Team 7340, members of
Team 1208 attended the FTC Kickoff and
helped competing teams with their robots.
End of build season
Scrimmage
2013-2015
Team 1208 held a
local scrimmage
with our local teams
in the Multi-Purpose
Room in order to
test and show off all
of the robots in a
competitive
environment, while
promoting the FIRST
value of
coopertition.
Gateway robotics
challenge
2015
Before the start of the FRC season, the
Metool Brigade hosted the first annual
Gateway Robotics Challenge, connecting
local teams and mentors in the St. Louis
region.
Frc robot
scramble
2012-2013
Under FIRST’s ideal of
coopertiton, Team 1208
practiced last year’s
game by competing against other robots in
friendly scrimmage matches at the St. Louis
Science Center to prepare for upcoming
Regional Competitions.
St. Louis Regional
2013
After qualifying sixteenth, we were drafted
into an alliance with Team 3284 and Team
2408. We won all but one elimination match on
our way to becoming regional champions and
also won the Regional Chairman’s Award for
the first time in eleven years.
Crossroads
Regional
2013
The Metool Brigade traveled to Terre Haute,
Indiana, as a veteran team to participate in
the rookie year
of the
Crossroads
Regional. In
the elimination
rounds, we
allied with
Team 931 and Team 1094, two St. Louis area
teams who we’ve built sustainable
relationships with.
World
Championship
2013
On Team 1208’s sixth trip to the FIRST World
Championship, we finished with a record of 4-4-0
and we were very pleased to score over 100
points in four different matches. Through this
adventure, we gained experience and made
connections within the FIRST community.
Student Ambassador,
Kansas City
Regional
2012
Members of the Metool Brigade went to the
Kansas City Regional to inform newcomers
about robotics and competition, answer
questions, and walk people through the pits.
Science Center
Scrimmage
2012
Wanting to practice before competition, we
brought our training field to the STL
Science Center to scrimmage with other
Metro-area teams. Additionally, we provided
assistance to any team who needed help with
its robot.
Kansas City
Regional
2012
Team 1208 earned the
Innovation in Control
award and captured
second place in
competition at the
2012 Kansas City
Regional.
St. Louis Regional
2011
In addition to having a Dean’s List Finalist, our
team won the Entrepreneurship Award at the
2011 St. Louis Regional.
St. Louis Regional
2012
The Metool Brigade was proud to have a
member named as a Dean’s List Finalist, as
well as to receive the Innovation in Control
Award.
Championship
2012
At the 2012 FIRST
Robotics Competition
Championship, our
robot participated in
the game Rebound
Rumble and placed
14th in our divi-
Smoky Mountain
Regional
Knoxville, Tennessee
March 31, 2012
Because of our generosity on the field, in the
pits, and in the stands, Team 1208 was
awarded the Gracious Professionalism Award.