By Terry Jacoby/weloveannarbor.com
Forsythe Middle School’s Robotics Team Ratatoaster won the Rookie All Star Award at the Michigan State Championship during their scheduled interview for Rookie All Star State Award (their robot did not qualify) at Saginaw Valley State University. The award earned the amazing team a spot in the 2025 FIRST World Championship April 16-19 in Houston, Texas. They will compete for the World Rookie All Star award and get to compete their robot with 600 other qualified teams!
From bold ideas to relentless hustle, Team Ratatoaster cooked up something extraordinary this season — and now, they’re about to represent Michigan on the global stage.
Hosted by FIRST®, FIRST Championship is a culminating, international event for the youth robotics competition season and an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for the robotics community as they help prepare young people for the future. Qualification and advancement to participate in FIRST Championship varies by program.
The Worlds event will take place in the George R. Brown Convention Center and feature 600 FRC teams from around the world!
The Forsythe RataToaster team also had an incredible showing the weekend prior at the Saline competition, winning the Team Spirit Award. Ranking 11th overall and stepping up as Alliance Captain No. 8, the middle schoolers showed their skills, determination, and grit, proving that that age is just a number when it comes to innovation and competition.
Cynthia Heraud, STEAM/PLTW Teacher at Forsythe Middle School and First Tech Challenge Robotics Coach, was obviously extremely proud of her team.
“Was it the squirrel?” she asked. “Oh, you bet it was! But more than that, it was the unmatched energy, enthusiasm, and support from RataToaster that made this award possible! Our hype squad, our cheering crew, and our dedicated team embody the core values of FIRST Robotics, lifting each other up every step of the way. Kudos to our amazing students for bringing the hype, heart, and spirit to every competition! Keep that energy high—this is just the beginning!”
This is one of the biggest honors a rookie FRC team can earn, recognizing not just performance, but inspiration, outreach, and the fire to change the game.
Peter Woolf, also a First Robotics Coach for RataToaster, added: “One of the things I’m most proud of with this team is their robot was built, coded, and driven all by the students. They put in the hours and had the persistence to build a world class robot. On top of that they are all years younger and about a foot shorter than most of the high school students at these competitions!”
Houston, get ready — the Toaster is coming in HOT!
The goal of FIRST in Michigan is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators. The FIRST Robotics Competition for high school students combines the excitement of a varsity sport with a robot-building experience that encompasses design, machining, programming and marketing. Teams compete in qualifying district events, with winners being determined by a point system. In Michigan, there are 514 FIRST Robotics teams. The 160 top-ranked teams advance to the state championship. Winners at the state level will advance to the international FIRST championship in Houston.
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