robotics

In the fall of 2002, Chestnut Hill Academy teachers Peter Randall and Rob Ervin were looking for a way to get students excited about engineering and technology.

That led them to found Team 1218, the academy's award-winning robotics team.

Team 1218 began with four curious students and two willing mentors. The team had very few resources in the beginning, using an empty closet as its shop and a hall as the build space.

Despite the rookie team’s inexperience and limitations, its passion and dedication was the driving force to winning both the 2003 Philadelphia Regional and Rookie All-­Star award.

Gallagher Fluid Seals is a proud sponsor of Team 1218.  The students's achievements with the program and afterwards as alumni are only matched by the dedication of the faculty leaders and mentors.

At the time Team 1218 was founded, CHA had an engineering graduation rate of exactly 0%. The school quickly recognized the importance of a robotics program to the students and the community, and began to fund the team in 2003 in hope that it would encourage more students to become scientists and engineers.