Project Bucephalus with their robot at the FIRST championships in Texas. Photo: Project Bucephalus.
Wollongong’s Project Bucephalus wowed the world in Texas – now they’ve been named the city’s first-ever ‘Local Heroes’.
The robotics team is made up of kids from across the region who share a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and a willingness to stand out.
This year they took home the prestigious Impact Award from the international FIRST Robotics competition over 600 other teams.
It’s the fourth time in the competition’s decades-long history the award has been won by a team from outside the USA.
Lead mentor Andrew Clark said the win was made all the more impressive by the fact that more than 70 per cent of the team have a diagnosed disability or disorder.
“We have 44 kids from 20 schools, including homeschooled children, in the LEGO League team and the FIRST team,” he said.
“The running gag is that we attract the weird ones, and we like it that way.
“They have put in a huge amount of work to get here, and I am so proud of them.”
He’s not the only one – Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown put a mayoral minute before the council asking to create a mayor’s Local Heroes recognition program – and to make Project Bucephalus the first recipients.
“I witnessed first-hand their pride in creating and building their robots,” the Lord Mayor said.
“To win on this scale is a credit to them and their pride is absolutely justified. At Comic Gong they had it working like a dream.”
Councillor Deirdre Stuart said she was delighted to support the initiative.
She said it was particularly fitting that Project Bucephalus be recognised for their achievements in STEM, given how often athletes are celebrated.
“I love the celebration of STEM,” she said.
“We talk about Wollongong being a city of innovation and this is innovation.
“It comes in all sorts of forms and we need it.”
The Lord Mayor said the mayor’s Local Heroes program was designed to provide a wider scope for recognition of residents’ outstanding achievements than the Keys to the City.
