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2 Gompei & the HERD - Who We Are

2.1 About the Team​

FIRST Team 190 - Gompei and the HERD is an Original & Sustaining FRC team. Team members are primarily 11-12 graders from the Mass Academy of Math & Science, but we actively recruit high school students from any school or home-school program to join the team.

2.1 Team History​

FRC 190 was founded in 1992 and has competed all years that the FIRST Robotics Competition has existed. In 1992, WPI was partnered with Doherty High School. In 1993, when the Mass Academy was founded, the team partnered with both schools. Over the years, our high school has been listed as only the Mass Academy, although we have welcomed students from Doherty and many other schools under Mass Academy’s extracurricular exchange.

The team has an extensive history of winning awards, especially engineering and creativity awards, on a local and international level. In 2001, the team captured our first regional victory at the Long Island Regional. In 2002 at a regional in Virginia, the team won a “Judge’s Award for Engineering Inspiration" for our extensive community outreach focused on spreading awareness for robotics. From that point forward, FIRST created an “Engineering Inspiration Award”, which is the second highest award offered in FIRST. In 2007, FRC190 was captain of the World Championship Winning Alliance.

A full list of the team’s participation and award history is available in the Appendix (coming soon).

2.2 Vision, Mission, Motto​

2.2.1 Vision Statement​

To be a team of integrity, consistently supporting others in the community whenever possible, and striving for excellence in all that we do. We inspire trust, enable positive change, and aim for success in every endeavor. We believe robotics is for everyone.

2.2.2 Mission Statement​

FRC190 is committed to fostering an inclusive community where every student is welcomed and empowered to learn through hands-on experience and collaboration. We cultivate a culture of innovation, embracing trial and error as essential to growth, while sharing our knowledge and experiences to expand access to robotics for all. Through our collective efforts, we aim to inspire and elevate the entire community.

2.2.3 Motto​

Integrity Above All. Service Before Self. Excellence in Everything.

2.2.4 Core Values​

  • Integrity - A commitment to honest and fair operation, on and off the field. We treat each other, fellow teams, and volunteers with respect. We win and lose graciously and as a team.
  • Service - When we have the opportunity to help, we help. Whether ally or competitor, when we have the resources, time, or knowledge another team needs to support their journey, we will always say yes and provide whatever support we are able.
  • Excellence - We work together to maintain our standards to allow us to be the best team we can be. We provide and accept honest feedback in the process, ask for help when needed, offer help without judgment, learn from our mistakes, and aim each day to give the best we are able.

2.3 Goals and Competencies​

2.3.1 Overall Team Goals and Objectives​

Goal 1: Enjoy participating in the team and program

Goal 2: To qualify for the World Championship through robot performance

Goal 3: To win at least one official award each season

Goal 4: To be alliance captain or 1st pick at all events

2.3.2 Core Team Skills to Reach Our Goals​

  • Have Fun
    • While building robots is serious business, it should be a passion project.
    • If you aren’t enjoying what is happening, say something! There are unfun tasks that need to get done, and sometimes we each just had a long day, but we can help build each other up and keep things moving forward positively.
  • Speak Up and Listen with Intent
    • Everyone’s ideas and experiences matter. We all learn the most by building off each other and our diverse backgrounds.
    • Show everyone the respect of listening with an open mind while they speak.
  • Accept Decisions with Grace
    • There are times when you will be passionate about an idea or choice, and the team may choose to go in another direction. Once that decision has been made, you must learn to let go and move on to supporting the team objective.
    • The more time we spend moving together as a cohesive team, the more efficient and productive we can be.
  • Show Up for Your Teammates
    • Be consistent in your attendance and participation, and of notifying folks of your absence.
    • Be sure to provide updates in the stand-up doc, and read and review any updates for days you weren’t in attendance.
  • Learn Together
    • We acknowledge that everyone has something they can teach and something they can learn. The best solutions will come from collective wisdom.
    • Take inspiration from others and the world around you. The past experiences serve as great stepping stones to better outcomes so we do not repeat mistakes of the past.
  • Acknowledge Your Bias
    • Self-reflection is key to adjusting your perspective and being mindful.
    • Create a safe space by admitting that everyone is subject to biases; it is how we take steps to combat them that matters.
  • Strive for Progress Over Perfection
    • Action matters. The tight schedule of the FRC season means we must be willing to make difficult decisions with confidence to keep things moving.
    • We know we will never achieve perfection, so we aim for progress and constant improvement.