2008 Baxter Bomb Squad
Success in Continuing to Promote the FIRST Message
The Bomb Squad is a FIRST Robotics program from Mountain Home, Arkansas, a town located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. The program is made up by students, school sponsors, and community mentors. The Bomb Squad joined the FIRST program in 1996. Baxter Healthcare Corporation has been the corporate partner of the Bomb Squad since 1996. The Science and Technology Group (A non-profit organization led by members of the Mountain Home area community in support of FIRST Robotics, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Lego League) became another Bomb Squad partner in 2004.
The Bomb Squad has won many awards since their introduction to FIRST in 1996. These have included numerous First Place medals at regional competitions and awards for innovation in design, community outreach, and programming. In 2000, the team won the prestigious Chairman’s Award at the national competition (the highest award presented at the FIRST competition). There are fewer than twenty teams in the history of FIRST that have received this award. We have participated in the Hall of Fame for the past few years and have succeeded in continuing to promote the FIRST message. The Bomb Squad has yet to win first place in a robotics competition at a national level, but has placed in the top sixteen numerous times.
Many Bomb Squad alumni have gone on to have successful careers in the science and engineering fields. Two Bomb Squad alumni have started FIRST teams in different states. Many Bomb Squad alumni are in college getting degrees in the science and engineering fields. The Bomb Squad has had a lot of success in the past, and hopes to continue to be successful in the present and the future.
