FIRST FRC Robotics Team from Martinsville Wins 2017 MBC Challenge Cup Social Media Challenge
Martinsville High School MADawgs create lots of social buzz for their team
April 21, 2017 – South Boston, VA – This year marked the third year that Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) sponsored the MBC Challenge Cup social media challenge as part of the MBC Challenge Cup, a competition that rewards superior performance by FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams in Southern Virginia. MBC is pleased to announce that the Martinsville High School MADawgs Team 3258, mentored by Mr. Todd Cassell, is the winning team for 2017.
The social media challenge is a competition whereby the MBC-sponsored FRC robotics teams can create buzz about their teams on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Live using the hashtag #MBCChallengeCup and their identifying team hashtag. The teams had one month, aligning with the dates of the district FRC events, to create their conversations on these three platforms. This year #MBCChallengeCup was mentioned 61,726 times by five teams who participated in the social media competition. The MADawgs were the winners, generating an impressive 28,900 mentions for their team during the competition period. As winners of the social media challenge, each team member of the MADawgs received a $20 Amazon gift card.
The MADawgs, a third-year FRC team, had a great 2017 season with their robot, finishing in second place as a District Event Finalist at the Southwest Virginia district event in Blacksburg, VA. The team also qualified for and competed in the FIRST Chesapeake District Championship event at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA.
As an economic driver in the Southern Virginia region and a technology company that understands the critical shortage of STEM-prepared students for future employment, MBC has invested more than $300,000 in FIRST Robotics Competition programs in Southern Virginia since 2012. We currently sponsor all eleven FIRST Robotics Competition teams located in Southern Virginia and are working to get more teams in the region involved in the FRC program. FRC teaches hard skills, such as programming, coding, and electronics, and soft skills, such as communication and teamwork. These skill sets are critical for all students, whether they plan to further their education with a certificate program that spans a few months or continue their studies at a 4-year institution of learning. These STEM and soft skills taught in FRC are highly desirable to current and prospective employers in Southern Virginia, and thereby facilitate the fulfillment of STEM careers by students in our region.
About MBC
Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization, committed to bridging the digital divide, promoting economic development, reducing the burdens of government and reinvesting in communities. MBC accomplishes this by operating an advanced open access fiber optic network, providing wholesale telecommunications transport services, colocation and tower leasing. Since its inception in 2004 and by offering a state-of-the-art fiber optic network, MBC has supported the recruitment of major investments to Southern Virginia including data centers, call center/operations centers, advanced manufacturing, research and development, and bio-tech industries. For more information, visit www.mbc-va.com.