Optimum, and parent company Altice USA, are thrilled to announce the winners of the fourth annual Optimum Innovator Awards, which recognizes FIRST Robotics Competition teams for their innovation and efforts in areas such as community engagement, technology, inspiration, diversity, and sustainability. This year, Optimum is celebrating the accomplishments of five winners, five runners-up, and 11 honorable mentions and awarding grants to support their growth, creativity, and innovation.
As a long-time supporter of the FIRST Robotics Competition, an organization that provides students with mentor-based programs to build science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, Optimum is committed to championing programs in its local communities that help inspire and educate future innovators.
With the 2023 season of FIRST competitions completed, the Optimum Innovator Awards not only recognize the drive and hard work that teams have made, but further support FIRST Robotics students as they prepare for the next competition season and find new and creative ways to engineer and construct their robots.
Team winners will receive grants of $2,000; runners-up will receive $1,500; and honorable mentions will receive $500.
2023 Optimum Innovator Award Winners
Inclusion Award
- Winner: O-Bots (Ossining, NY)
- Runner-up: Pitt Pirates Robotics (Greenville, NC)
Excellence in Technology Award
- Winner: FeMaidens (Bronx, NY)
- Runner-up: R.O.G. (Grove, OK)
Community Connector Award
- Winner: The Full Metal Jackets (Rockwall, TX)
- Runner-up: Robotalons (Prosper, TX)
Inspiration Award
- Winner: Rebel Robotics (Great Neck, NY)
- Runner-up: Regal Eagles (Bethpage, NY)
Sustainability Award
- Winner: Putnam Area Robotics Team (Winfield, WV)
- Runner-up: Warhawks (Edison, NJ)
Honorable Mentions
- Nemesis (Robbinsville, NJ)
- Hurricanes (Westhampton, NY)
- Sachem Aftershock (Ronkonoma, NY)
- The Mechanical Bulls (Smithtown, NY)
- Thundercolts (Huntington Station, NY)
- The POBots (Plainview, NY)
- PSIcotics (Lindenhurst, NY)
- Jbirds (Hicksville, NY)
- Sciborgs (Bronx, NY)
- Gorillas (Hendersonville, NC)
- Black Hawk Robotics (Heath, TX)
