GLOCESTER – The robotics team from Ponaganset High School returned to the world stage this week, competing at an international championship event in Houston, Texas for the second consecutive year.
The Gongoliers, as they’re known, qualified for the event at the New England District FIRST Robotics Challenge Championship, where they were one of two teams to receive the Engineering Inspiration Award. The award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community, and was given after the team met with judges to share their outreach efforts and detail how they work to embody and spread the mission of the FIRST program, “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.”
The honor made the team one of two headed to worlds from Rhode Island – with just over one week to plan, purchase plane tickets and fundraise for the international competition.
Fortunately, a GoFundMe campaign set up to help the Gongoliers raised nearly $8,000 for the effort in mere days, and remains open.
Founded in 2013 as an extracurricular activity within the high school’s STEM Academy, the team competed in their first World Championship last year after winning the 2024 New England District Championship. In Houston, the Gongoliers earned third in their division in 2024.
A video created as part of this year’s award submission documents the team’s other achievements. Team members volunteer for events throughout the year, helping to set up the school for cross country meets, offering peer tutoring and organizing a charity fund drive. The Gongoliers host the northern Rhode Island qualification event, aa well as a Women in STEM conference each year. They mentor five FIRST LEGO League teams – a global robotics program for children and young people, designed to introduce them to STEM concepts – and founded the Rhode Island Robotics Alliance.
At the American National Guards Team Expo, the PHS team showcased a robot to a crowd of more than 700 guests.
“Through demos like these we make STEM accessible, showing people of all ages that technology isn’t something to observe, it’s something they can create,” notes the voiceover.
Team members advocated at the state house to help secure funding for robotics programs and in 2023, they partnered with another team to present to the Governor’s Workforce Board.
“Can the smallest state inspire a new generation? Can something small really change the world? Small things can make a big difference,” team members note in the submission. “We are pioneers, volunteers, engineers, Gongoliers.”
The video helped to secure their place in Texas and so, last week, Team 5112 robot “Hermes,” and equipment were packed into a truck to head back to the state along with other qualifying New England teams’ gear. Students flew out on Tuesday, April 15 to join 600 other teams registered to compete from across the globe, including groups from India, Turkey, Armenia, Mexico, Israel, Poland and China.
Through Saturday, April 19, they’re all vying for the Engineering Inspiration Award at the world level in matches at the George Brown Convention Center.
With their dedication, focus and passion for the educational hobby, it seems the Gongoliers have already won, no matter the outcome.
