Hyper-Birds del Tec CCM representing Mexico at the FIRST Robotics World Championship
The Hyper-Birds team from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de México, is currently in Houston, Texas, preparing to represent Mexico at the FIRST Robotics World Championship 2025. The competition, a global celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), is taking place from April 16th to 19th, drawing approximately 50,000 attendees.
This year's championship promises to be even bigger than last year's, which already set records with participants from over 50 countries. The Hyper-Birds' participation is generating considerable excitement, both within the Tec de Monterrey community and among Mexican robotics enthusiasts.
Representing Mexico on the World Stage
The team, composed of 30 high school students from the Tec CCM, is competing in the Tech Challenge category. According to a report by Víctor Hugo Arteaga from Grupo Milenio, the team is led by captains Carlos Cabañas Gallardo and Isaac Quintero, with Víctor Antonio Gómez Aladro and José Emilio Rangel Razo serving as coaches (Arteaga, 2024).
«We are incredibly proud to be representing our school and our country at this prestigious event,» said Carlos Cabañas Gallardo, one of the team captains. «We've worked tirelessly to prepare, and we're eager to showcase our skills and innovation.»
A Journey to the World Championship
The Hyper-Birds earned their spot at the World Championship after a series of impressive performances in regional qualifying rounds, held between January and March in Toluca and Mexico City. Their victory over the Nautilus team, also from Tec CCM, was particularly noteworthy. According to the Tec Campus Ciudad de México (@tec_ccm) Instagram post, the team became the first from Prepa Tec to advance to the World Championship in their category.
The team's departure from Mexico City's International Airport on Monday morning was met with enthusiastic support from fellow travelers. «The energy and excitement of the Borregos del Tec was contagious,» said one airport employee. «It was inspiring to see these young people so proud to represent Mexico.»
Team Roster and Schedule
The Hyper-Birds team roster includes:
- Víctor Hugo Arteaga Aguilar
- Mariana Barona Sánchez
- Isabella Caballero
- Carlos Armando Colmenares
- Óscar Frausto
- Paulina García
- Sergio Armando García
- Kim Ham
- Natalia Hernández
- Alejandro Kourchenko
- Fernanda Magaña
- Yunuén Muñoz
- Karime Ordaz
- Patricio Paniagua
- Hannia Peralta
- Luis Pérez
- Ramsés Pérez
- Amanda Piñones
- Isaac Quintero
- Aitana Recio
- Fernando Sánchez
- Isac Sánchez
- Camila Velasco
- Paola Velázquez
- Aniara Zurita
The team will be participating in both morning and afternoon sessions from Wednesday through Saturday. Their return to Mexico is scheduled for Sunday.
What is FIRST?
FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is an organization dedicated to promoting STEM education and inspiring young people to pursue careers in these fields. According to the Grupo Milenio article, the FIRST Robotics Competition provides students with hands-on experience in designing, building, and programming robots to compete in challenging games (Arteaga, 2024).
The FIRST Championship is the culmination of the FIRST Robotics Competition season, bringing together teams from around the world to celebrate their achievements and compete for the title of World Champion.
Houston: A Hub for STEM Innovation
Houston is proving to be an ideal host city for the FIRST Championship, known for its vibrant STEM community and its strong support for innovation. The city's commitment to education and technology is creating a welcoming environment for participants and attendees alike.
The Hyper-Birds' participation in the FIRST Robotics World Championship is not only a testament to their hard work and dedication but also a source of pride for Mexico. As they compete on the world stage, they are inspiring a new generation of young people to pursue their passions in STEM and to strive for excellence in all their endeavors.
Reference
Arteaga, V. H. (2024). Hyper-Birds del Tec CCM a Mundial FIRST de robótica. Milenio. Retrieved from https://www.milenio.com/ciencia-y-salud/hyper-birds-tec-ccm-mundial-first-robotica
