SC New York News

State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-C, Big Flats) honored the Southern Tier robotics team, Team TARDIS 5356, for their success at the New York Excelsior Regional Championship and the FIRST World Festival earlier this year.

Team TARDIS, founded in 2011, is one of three high school teams at Corning Robotics, sponsored by Corning, Inc. The 14-member team includes students from Corning-Painted Post and Horseheads high schools.

In March, Team TARDIS received the Inspire Award at the New York Excelsior Region Championship held at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. The Inspire Award recognizes superior performance in robot design, innovation, programming, and STEM outreach.

The victory earned Team TARDIS a spot at the FIRST World Festival in Houston, Texas from April 17-20. They were one of 224 teams representing every state in America and international teams. The team finished ranked No. 16 out of 224 teams.

O’Mara and Palmesano joined the team members and their coaches last night at their headquarters in Horseheads to present an official Legislative Resolution (J2485/K2178) honoring their achievements. The resolution was approved by the state Senate and Assembly in May.

In a joint statement, O’Mara, Palmesano, and Friend said: “Team TARDIS represents some of our best and brightest students from the Southern Tier who have had amazing success throughout the past year. Their commitment, creativity, enthusiasm, expertise, and vision stood out this year in prestigious competitions against local, state, national, and international teams.”

Assistant Coach Mike Simons stated: “All of us coaches and parents couldn't be more proud of the work Team TARDIS did this season. From the start they set a goal qualifying for the championship in Texas...They built an incredible robot that competed with the very best our Excelsior region has to offer.”

The resolution recognizes Team TARDIS members: Adam Perry, Thang Tran, Thai Tran, Isaac Moyer; Luke McNaughton; Eavan Qin; Victor Roussey; Dean Simons; Nicole Miller; Tristan Lint; Graham Simons; Michael McNaughton; Seojun Cho; Daphne Karacay.

It also acknowledges Paul Dohn as a founding father of Team TARDIS in 2011 and its senior mentor. Dohn was nominated by the team as a second-place global finalist for the Compass Award honoring top coaches worldwide.

The resolution reads: “Poised eagerly with enthusiasm...these students now stand honorably...in eager anticipation of future challenges...appreciating the caring counsel provided by teachers, mentors and parents.”