Laurel, MS, March 18, 2024 – In an electrifying display of innovation and teamwork, the Denham Venom Robotics Team, hailing from the Denham Springs High School STEM and Robotics Center, clinched the Regional Winner title at The Magnolia Regional held on March 15th - 16th, in Laurel, Mississippi. Demonstrating unmatched skill and strategic acumen, Denham Venom, alongside their alliance partners SS Prometheus from Mandeville, Louisiana, and Team Combustion from Slidell, Louisiana, soared through the competition to secure their spot at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston this April.
In addition to their victory, Denham Venom was honored with The Autonomous Award, celebrating their robot's exceptional ability to operate independently with high-performance, a testament to the team's advanced programming and engineering capabilities.
"I cannot be prouder of these students, many who have sacrificed hundreds of hours designing, machining, building, and programming our robot during build season and who then worked tirelessly to maintain that robot all through the competition," said Coach Daniel Eiland. "This success is a direct reflection on their grit and determination."
The team's achievements are also a credit to the dedication and guidance of Coach Danny Thomasson, along with the invaluable support and expertise provided by college and faculty mentors. Together, they have created an environment where innovation, perseverance, and teamwork flourish.
The Denham Venom Robotics Team, comprising 40 dedicated high school students, has rapidly ascended in the world of competitive robotics. Despite being a relatively young team, with only five years since its inception and three years of competition, their journey to the top speaks volumes of their passion, innovation, and teamwork.
Looking ahead, Denham Venom is gearing up for the Bayou Regional in New Orleans, where they aim to further refine their designs and strategies. "Our goal is to continue innovating our designs to improve our scoring ability," Eiland shared, underscoring the team's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
As they prepare for the global stage at the World Championship, Denham Venom faces the challenge of raising $20,000 to cover travel expenses, including charter bus rental, hotel accommodations, and other associated costs. The team calls on the community and potential sponsors to support their journey and help them represent Denham Springs on the world stage.
Acknowledging Our Sponsors
The Denham Venom Robotics Team wishes to express our profound gratitude to our major sponsors for their instrumental support in our journey towards excellence. Our heartfelt thanks go to NASA, Dow, Weyerhaeuser, West Coast Products, DoD STEM, and Fabworks for their generous contributions and steadfast belief in the power of STEM education and robotics. Their commitment has fueled our competitive successes and enriched our educational experiences. We are also immensely grateful to our additional sponsors, whose support is crucial to our team's development and achievements. Each sponsor's contribution has enabled our students to delve into engineering, programming, and teamwork, preparing them for successful futures in STEM fields.
To learn more about the Denham Venom Robotics Team, donate to their World Championship journey, or follow their progress, please contact Coach Daniel Eiland at daniel.eiland@lpsb.org.
About Denham Venom Robotics Team
Founded in 2019, the Denham Venom Robotics Team is a group of passionate high school students from Denham Springs, Louisiana, dedicated to the field of robotics. Operating out of the Denham Springs High School STEM and Robotics Center, and under the guidance of Coach Daniel Eiland and Coach Danny Thomasson, the team competes in FIRST Robotics competitions, emphasizing STEM education, teamwork, and innovation. For more information, visit https://www.firstinspires.org.
