King's student named semi-finalist in robotics competition

Madeleine Schwitters hears herself named to the
Dean's List Semi-Finalists

FIRST Robotics (FRC) Team 4911 CyberKnights, a robotics team from King’s High School, is proud to announce that Madeleine Schwitters has been named a FIRST Dean’s List Semi-Finalist at the West Valley District Event in Spokane.

Madeleine will represent the team at the Pacific Northwest District Championship April 5-8, 2017 where she will compete for the opportunity to represent the team at the World Championships later that month.

The Dean’s List Award began in 2010 to celebrate outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary. In an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of the FIRST most outstanding FRC students, the Kamen family sponsors this award for the selected top students.

The FIRST Dean’s List Award is awarded to a current student leader who has led their FIRST Robotics Competition team and communities to increase awareness for FIRST and its mission while achieving personal technical expertise and accomplishment, and who will be great leaders of FIRST’s ever growing student alumni.

CyberKnights coach Mike Thompson with Madeleine
at a team event

Madeleine was nominated by CyberKnights coach and King’s High School teacher Mike Thompson because of her natural ability and interest in building, leading groups, programming robots and passion for ensuring every student has the opportunity to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

She has held numerous leadership roles on her FRC and FTC teams including Drive Captain, Mill Lead and CAD Lead for Critical Systems. She coaches an FLL team, started a Special Olympics Unified Robotics team and mentors at robotics summer camps. She devotes about 30 hours per week to the team and outreach events, while maintaining a 3.96 GPA in mainly AP and college-prep courses.

After realizing the importance of STEM and how it impacts people’s lives around the world, Madeleine wanted to ensure every student has access to STEM education regardless of their circumstances.

She recently launched a non-profit called Kids and Tech with the mission to help children explore STEM in fun ways and enable everyone access to STEM education and activities.

Through Kids and Tech, Madeleine is promoting FIRST Robotics as well as camps offering need-based scholarships, low-cost/free community events related to STEM, and even fun science experiments to do at home.

Madeleine has started a
non-profit to promote robotics

She hopes to use this non-profit to promote equity in her community and eventually worldwide. She’s working to provide scholarships to underprivileged children so they can attend STEM camps, and securing donations to provide LEGO Kits, laptops, and other equipment to schools and groups that cannot afford to start STEM programs without it.

“I’m beyond proud of the contribution Madeleine is making to spread STEM and the ideals of FIRST, said Mike Thompson. “Madeleine has made it clear that her journey with FIRST is just beginning. She plans to mentor a team during college, volunteer at events, and would love to continue coaching.”

The FIRST Dean’s List Award has attracted the attention of prestigious colleges and universities who desire to have FIRST Dean’s List students apply for admissions.

“I am honored to be nominated for this award and am beyond excited to be recognized as a semi-finalist,” said Madeleine. “FIRST has inspired me to pursue engineering, understand the importance of STEM and ensure everyone has access to STEM education. I look forward to representing my team at the next level of competition.”

You can learn more about the CyberKnights on their website and about FIRST Robotics on their website