Please help FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) robotics team "Banana Box" to the 2026 FIRST World Championship in Houston TX (April 28 to May 2, 2026)! https://www.firstchampionship.org
We are team Banana Box #16169 from Windham NH. On February 21, 2026, at the NH FTC State Championship, we won the Control Award and Finalist Alliance Captain. We also scored high advancement points to advance to the 2026 FIRST World Championship. Banana Box will not only represent the town of Windham, but also represent the New Hampshire State to compete with 335 High-Performance FTC teams from around the world.
Banana Box’s Control Award celebrates the team that uses sensors and software to increase the robot’s functionality during gameplay. This award is given to the team that demonstrates innovative thinking and solutions to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, improving mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results. The solutions should work consistently during robot matches but does not have to work all the time.
Who are we?
We are a team of diverse, unique, and occasionally nonsensical individuals, all united under one goal: to become the best robotics team we can be! Of course, that goal requires a lot of work, but with the variety of skills and interests found on our team, we can handle just about anything. From presenting to hosting to sharing our experiences with others, there is so much more to participating in FTC than meets the eye, and we are so excited to jump right into this season and get to work!
Banana Box #16169, consists of 8 inspired and motivated 9th to 11th grade students, from Windham High School, North Andover High School, and Phillips Academy. They have imagination, vision, a creative mindset, and young leadership. Moreover, they can work collaboratively in a team.
Rayhan (Team Captain, Lead Driver)
Aditya (Team Co-Captain, Human Player)
Ethan (Lead Programmer, Driver)
Kiaan (Co-Lead Programmer, Engineering Notebook)
Govind (Lead CAD, Mechanical)
Matthew (Lead Mechanical, CAD)
Pranav (Lead Community Outreach, Programmer )
Stefan (Community Outreach, Mechanical)
About FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC):
It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (for students grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
What Do We Want to Do?
- To participate the 2026 FIRST World Championship (April 28 - May 2, 2026) - https://www.firstchampionship.org. This is our 1st World Championship!
- To continue developing the Robot Design, improve the reliability of accomplishing the game missions, and enhance the design to perform additional tasks. So that, our Robot is more competitive at the World Championship.
- Organize and host outreach events to foster critical thinking and raise K-12 students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
- To seek sponsors and mentors to empower us.
Budget Plan:
Travel expenses (Including Airfare from Boston to Houston, Accommodation, and meals) = $1,200 for each member
Shipping (Robot, Equipment & Tools, Parts, judging presentation materials, team booth decoration materials, etc) = $800
Event Registration Fee = $2,500
Total Budget
= (8 x $1200) + $800 + $2500
= $12, 900
Banana Box is also doing more fundraising events such as STEM Workshops, Inspire Gala, and supports from our Parents' companies, and local businesses.
Your Sponsorship/Donation:
FIRST NH Robotics: Non-Profit EIN 82-5435938
- Will enable Banana Box to improve and build a competitive robot to participate at the FIRST World Championship (April 28 - May 2, 2026)
- Banana Box will represent New Hampshire State (and Town of Windham) to compete with other 335 high-performance FTC teams from around the world.
- Allow Banana Box to develop and utilize skills in business, engineering, creative design, innovative solution, project management, programming, teamwork, and critical thinking
- Empower Banana Box to leverage Science, Technology, and Engineering to promote local communities' awareness and understanding of the engineering profession.
Sponsors Recognition and Appreciation:
Company or Organization Name, Logo and Website Address on following (to be shared with judges, participants and visitors at the 2026 FIRST World Championship. At least 50,000 students from around the world will be at the World Championship):
- Pit Booth at World Championship
- Website and Social Media Pages
- Engineering Portfolio and Notebook
- Judging Presentation
- Team T-Shirts
- Logo on our Robot
Please support Banana Box, and thank you for your donation to help us to participate the 2026 FIRST World Championship.
BANANA BOX #16169
Rayhan, Aditya, Ethan, Matthew, Stefan, Govind, Pranav, Kiaan, and Coach Wan