It's a new FIRST Tech Challenge Season and the Force is with us! 

At the finale of the  FIRST World Championship in Houston FIRST announced that the 2019-2020 season will be in Partnership with Star Wars: Force for Change.  Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)  made the announcement via a pre-recorded video.  We've created a 2019/2020 national registration information page on the ORTOP website with  links to the videos announcing the partnership and season theme, FIRST RISE: The Force is Building powered by Star Wars Force for Change video. 

Other resources for starting our  SKYSTONE season

• Overview of our 2019/2020 calendar   
• Team resource page 
• ORTOP Information Flyer - please share with others in your community to help start new teams  and interest others in joining yours. 
• ORTOP Team Support Award application process will open on May 15th. Announcements regarding awards cannot be made until at least mid-August.  We will not know the status of our ODE funding until the State Legislature votes on a budget and the governor signs it. 

FIRST World Championship - Houston! 
Yet again Oregon turned in stellar performances. Yes, single alliance scores were over 500 points!  We are very proud of our teams.
A list of results and awards can be found here.  
And a special congratulations to Rispa Vranka Wafula, #7776 – Loose Screws on being named a FIRST Dean's List Winner.  This marks the third time an FTC Oregon student has received this honor. 
If you missed watch teams play Rover Ruckus at it's highest level, you have an other opportunity this week (Wed - Sat) as the FIRST World Championship moves to Detroit.    

ORTOP is working with Dialogues in Action to complete an evaluation study for our program.  Your consideration to participate as an Evaluation Interviewer is appreciated.

David Perry, ORTOP Executive Director,  wants to invite mentors, coaches, alumni, other adults or mature senior team members associated with your team(s) to take part in an unprecedented study of the impact this program has on the young people that participate. ORTOP is recruiting interested adults to conduct interviews with a handful of students on FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams during the month of May. No experience with evaluation is needed; we will provide the necessary training and technical support with our partner, Dr. Steve Patty of Dialogues in Action. A small stipend is available for those who attend the training and complete five or more interviews during the month of May.
Please contact David-Perry@ortop.org if you are interested.  Training is scheduled to take place either in-person in Portland and Roseburg or via web training the weekend of May 4 and 5.