Longleaf Middle School Robotics Team – FTC Team
#24974 “Grippy Things.”
The Longleaf Middle School Robotics Team, home of FIRST Tech Challenge
(FTC) Team #24974, “Grippy Things,” is one of the Robotics teams of
Longleaf’s LEAP Magnet School and a proud example of hands-on STEAM
education in action. Located at 1160 Longreen Parkway in Columbia, South
Carolina, Longleaf Robotics provides middle school students with a chance
to experience engineering, computer science, innovation, teamwork,
leadership, and creativity.
What began as a small after-school club has grown rapidly—so much so that a
second FTC team was launched in 2025. This growth reflects the dedication
of our students.
The Robotics Team meets weekly in our school's engineering
classroom, designed for innovation. During these sessions, students
collaborate to design, build, and program robots that compete in local and
regional FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. Each season, the team
participates in FTC events. The robots are fully student-designed and
coded, with team members managing all aspects—from mechanical design and
software programming to marketing, outreach, and documentation.
While competition is an exciting part, Longleaf Robotics extends beyond the
arena. Last year, the team organized a school-wide raffle during a pep
rally to raise awareness of robotics, taught a robotics course during
Longleaf’s summer STEAM camp using SPIKE Prime LEGO kits, and even
partnered with a nearby elementary school to borrow materials when our
resources were limited.
The Longleaf Middle School Robotics Team focuses on leadership,
collaboration, and gracious professionalism through STEM.
