The Lancer Robotics team has begun the 2015 FIRST Robotics Competition, “Recycle Rush,” a recycle-themed game of stacking totes and disposing litter using the team created robot.

For teacher Peter Park this year’s competition will mean students taking the lead.

“For the past few competitions, the mentors have always taken charge of leading the students throughout the process,” said Park. “This year most of the planning and building is aimed more towards the students than the teachers.”

Team captain senior Jessica Alyssa Manuel hopes that her team will take away something positive from this experience.

“One of my goals for our team this year is to have all the members motivated to take part in building the robot and to strengthen the team’s cooperation and communication with each other,” said Manuel.

The Kick-Off on Jan. 5 at McKinley High School saw schools from all over the state in attendance. Teams have six weeks to construct their robots in preparation for the competitions.

The Academy Lancer team plans to participate in two competitions, one in Utah in early March and the second at the University of Hawaii later that month.