The NASA Ames Robotics Team, the Cheesy Poofs, competes in the FIRST Robotics competition (FRC) as Team 254. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international organization that focuses on inspiring students about math and science. FIRST, among other things, runs an international robotics competition; this competition involves students, adults, and engineers in the challenging and multifaceted robot design and construction process.

Team 254 has evolved over the years from one of the smallest teams in the country in 1999, at a struggling continuation high school called Broadway, to a large program based at the NASA Ames Research Center and at Bellarmine College Prep.While the team’s student members have changed, the Cheesy Poofs have continued to flourish. In 2004, the Team won theFIRST Chairman’s award at the World level, which served as an induction into the FIRST Hall of Fame, allowing the team to attend the FIRST World Championship every year.

Dedicated student members of Team 254 have ensured the continued success of the Cheesy Poofs as we enter our 12th season in the FIRST robotics community. We are proud of the accomplishments of the past Cheesy Poof teams, and the foundation which they have built, we are grateful for the opportunities NASA, FIRST, and Bellarmine College Preparatory prepare us for, and we are honored to carry on our past traditions of excellence. We look forward to the opportunity to continue to give back to the FIRST community in every way we can.

The Cheesy Poofs have managed to be very successful in FIRST Robotics. Our FIRST team has won at least one regional event every year since the start of the program in 1999 and has won the local Silicon Valley Regional ten out of eleven years. For a more complete list of accomplishments, please see our Awards page.

Much more important than any competitive successes or awards, the students of Team 254 have grown academically, intellectually, and as individuals. Team 254 students gain an understanding, respect, and appreciation for the benefits of a good education, and our students strive to take advantage of this education in their immediate future. Much like NASA and Bellarmine College Preparatory, FIRST is an organization which, in a profound way, inspires and motivates our students to ambitiously pursue their academic, career and personal goals.