With a grant from High-Tech High Heels, the Young Women’s Preparatory Network created the first robotics club at the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and the “Thunder Chicks” were born!

Tthunderchickshe team includes girls who have previous experience with robotics as well as some who do not. They were the only all-girl team at their first competitions. They placed in the top 10 teams and had the second highest point scoring team in a tournament in January. They were also only one of three teams nominated for the Think Award, which considers not only the performance of the robot, but also the team’s collaboration, communication and project documentation.

Irma Rangel is a Dallas public school emphasizing mathematics, science and technology in a rigorous academic environment. More than 75% of its students are from economically disadvantaged homes and 85% will be first-generation college students.

All of the girls on the team plan to go to college. Their aspirations range from computer science and engineering to  computer animation, patent law and business.

Well done, Thunder Chicks!