By the Year

Every day, we are about growing students for a successful future. With that, we are proud of the various achievements they have garnered over the years. Thanks for the guidance, mentors!

Starting in January with the FIRST season kickoff, our team builds a large, fully operational robot to compete in the season game. Over a period of six weeks we prototype, design, fabricate, assemble, wire, and program the robot in accordance with the engineering design process and the competition rules outlined by FIRST.

Why doesn't your robot have a name yet?

At Up-A-Creek, robots don't receive names until after the season has concluded. In 2015, our lead mentor had to leave for an international trip, and the robot wasn't named until after the season ended. Coincidentally, this was our first year to have won a regional competition. A little superstitious, we have kept this tradition ever since in hopes that it helps our performance. 

2023 Charged Up - "Excalibur"


Winner, Oklahoma Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 6424 (Stealth Panther Robotics), 2333 (S.C.R.E.E.C.H.), and Team 2945 (Steel Mustangs).

Gracious Professionalism Award, Oklahoma Regional

Celebrates outstanding demonstration for FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism and working together both on and off the playing field.

Innovation in Control Award, Colorado Regional

Celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique machine functions.

2022 Rapid React - "Vertigo"

Winner, World Championship

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 254 (Cheesy Poofs), 3175 (Knight Vision), and 6672 (Fusion Corps)

Winner, World Championship (Galileo Division)

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 254 (Cheesy Poofs), 3175 (Knight Vision), and 6672 (Fusion Corps)

Winner, Oklahoma Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 4522 (Team SCREAM) and 3160 (F.R.O.G.).

Winner, Colorado Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 1339 (AngelBotics) and 4944 (The Hi Fives).

Winner, Kendrick Castillo Memorial Tournament 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 4499 (The Highlanders) and 3807 (Overland BlazerBots).

Autonomous Award, World Championship (Galileo Division)

Celebrates the team that has demonstrated consistent, reliable, high-performance robot operation during autonomously managed actions. Evaluation is based on the robot’s ability to sense its surroundings, position itself or onboard mechanisms appropriately, and execute tasks.

Industrial Design Award, Oklahoma Regional

Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge.

Excellence in Engineering Award, Colorado Regional

Celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature.

2021 Infinite Recharge - "Whirlwind"

Skills Competition #1 Rank, Global

#1 ranked Skills Competition team in the world out of 1,561 teams.

Skills Competition Finalist, Lithium Group

Celebrates a team’s outstanding success with the Skills Competition.

Winner, Kendrick Castillo Memorial Tournament

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of competition. Won in partnership with teams 14010 (The Kraken) and 4944 (The Hi Fives).

Chairman's Award, Rocky Mountain Region

Honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

Quality Award, Lithium Group

Celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

Designer's Award, Magnesium Group

Celebrates a team’s outstanding success with the Game Design Challenge.

Dean's List Finalist Award

Celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary.  Won by Caitlyn F.

2020 Infinite Recharge - "Iris"

Winner, Great Northern Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 876 (Thunder Robotics) and 4593 (Rapid Acceleration).

Autonomous Award, Great Northern Regional

Celebrates the team that has demonstrated consistent, reliable, high-performance robot operation during autonomously managed actions. Evaluation is based on the robot’s ability to sense its surroundings, position itself or onboard mechanisms appropriately, and execute tasks.

Dean's List Finalist Award

Celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary.  Won by Emma M. (Great Northern Regional).

2019 Deep Space - "Liftoff"

Winner, Colorado Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 1410 (The Kraken) and 4068 (Palmer Ridge BEARbotics).

Winner, Oklahoma Regional Competition

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 4005 (Hostile Gato Robotics) and 6026 (Tiger Strike).

Gracious Professionalism Award, Colorado Regional

Celebrates outstanding demonstration for FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism and working together both on and off the playing field. 

Excellence in Engineering Award, Oklahoma Regional

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature.

2018 Power Up - "Ascension"

Winner, Newton Division, Houston Half-World Championship  

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 1678 (Citrus Circuits), 4061 (SciBorgs), and 1723 (The FBI).

Winner, Hub City Regional Competition  

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 846 (The Funky Monkeys) and 4610 (BearTecs).

Winner, Idaho Regional Competition 

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 2122 (Team Tators) and 3145 (TeraViks).

Regional Finalist, Colorado Regional Competition

This award celebrates the alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition.  Competed in partnership with teams 148 (Robowranglers) and 5414 (Pearadox).

Regional Chairman's Award, Hub City Regional

Honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

Industrial Design Award, Houston Half-World Championship (Newton Division)

Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge.

Quality Award, Colorado Regional

 This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

Quality Award, Idaho Regional

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

This award is presented to an outstanding Mentor in the robotics competition who best leads, inspires, and empowers their team using excellent communication skills. Won by Cathy O.  (Idaho Regional).

2017 Steamworks - "Upstream"

Winner, Cow Town ThrowDown

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 1986 (Team Titanium), 1939 (The Kuhnigits), and 1094 (Channel Cats). 

Winner, Indiana Robotics Invitational

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition. Won in partnership with teams 195 (CyberKnights), 2590 (Nemisis), and 1710 (The Ravonics Revolution).

Winner, Colorado Regional Competition

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition. Won in partnership with teams 1011 (CRUSH) and 3648 (Sparta Robotica).

Regional Finalist, Utah Regional Competition

This award celebrates the alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition (in partnership with teams 662, Rocky Mountain Robotics, and 1339, Angelbotics).

Engineering Inspiration Award, Utah Regional

This award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team's school and community. 

Excellence in Engineering Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature.

2016 Stronghold - "Ballista"

Winner, Colorado Regional Competition

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition. Won in partnership with teams 1011 (CRUSH) and 4550 (Something's Bruin).

Regional Chairman's Award, Arizona North Regional

Honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. 

Innovation in Control Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique machine functions.

Quality Award, FIRST Championship

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

This award is presented to an outstanding Mentor in the robotics competition who best leads, inspires, and empowers their team using excellent communication skills. Teresa Ewing won the 2016 Woodie Flowers Award for her consistent support and mentoring since 2005 (Colorado Regional).

2015 Recycle Rush - "Clawbinator"

Winner, Utah Regional Competition

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 624 (Cryptonite) and 4334 (Alberta Tech Alliance).

Winner, Colorado Regional Competition

Celebrates the alliance that wins the final match of the competition.  Won in partnership with teams 1730 (Team Driven) and 4593 (Rapid Acceleration).

Industrial Design Award, Utah Regional

This award celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge.

Innovation in Control Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique machine functions.

Excellence in Engineering Award, FIRST Championship

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature.

Volunteer of the Year Award, St. Vrain Valley School District

This award celebrates the volunteers who go above and beyond in actively supporting the school district to better serve students.

2014 Aerial Assist - "Compositron"

Quality Award, Utah Regional

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

Creativity Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates creativity in design, use of component, or strategy of play.

Woodie Flowers Finalist Award

This award is presented to an outstanding Mentor in the robotics competition who best leads, inspires, and empowers their team using excellent communication skills. John Rigsby, won the 2014 Woodie Flowers Award for his consistent support and mentoring since 2004 (Colorado Regional).

2013 Ultimate Ascent - "Adamantis"

Innovation in Control Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique machine functions.

Quality Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

2012 Rebound Rumble - "Phantom"

Innovation in Control Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components (electrical, mechanical or software) to provide unique machine functions.

2011 Logo Motion - "DotterBot"

Regional Finalist, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates the alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition.

Engineering Excellence Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature that recognizes any aspect of engineering excellence and innovation in the real world. This includes, but is not limited to: design, wiring methods, material selection, programming techniques, and unique machine attributes. The criteria for this award are based on the team’s ability to concisely describe verbally, as well as demonstrate, this chosen machine feature.

2010 Breakaway - "Blue Steel Knight"

Regional Finalist, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates the alliance that makes it to the final match of the competition.

Engineering Excellence Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature that recognizes any aspect of engineering excellence and innovation in the real world. This includes, but is not limited to: design, wiring methods, material selection, programming techniques, and unique machine attributes. The criteria for this award are based on the team’s ability to concisely describe verbally, as well as demonstrate, this chosen machine feature.

2009 Lunacy - "Up-Duck"

Driving Tomorrow's Technology Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature. This award recognizes any aspect of engineering elegance including, but not limited to: design, wiring methods, material selection, programming techniques, and unique machine attributes. The criteria for this award are based on the team’s ability to concisely describe verbally, as well as demonstrate, this chosen machine feature.

Quality Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

2008 Overdrive - "Dr. Claw"

:( We still had a great year!

2007 Rack "N" Roll  - "Cheddar Shredder"

Quality Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.

2006 Aim High - "Up-Chuck"

Sportsmanship Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and continuous gracious professionalism in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field.

2005 Triple Play - "Captain Hook"

Engineering Inspiration Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates a team’s outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school as well as their community. Criteria include: the extent and inventiveness of the team’s efforts to recruit students to engineering, the extent and effectiveness of the team’s community outreach efforts, and the measurable success of those efforts. This is the second highest team award FIRST bestows.

Creativity Award, Colorado Regional

This award celebrates creative design, use of a component, or a creative or unique strategy of play