On May 20, 2025, HNMCS 7659 Robotics Team hosted Alumnae Chats where former students shared their experience thus far in their post-secondary journey, either in person or virtually. There were five speakers in total. They were Maya Pankiw, Ainsley Rix, Sally Jeon, Darcy Susel, and Veronica Grignano. Maya, who graduated in 2019, completed her undergrad at McMaster University and is in the process of completing her post-secondary at UofT in biomedical engineering. Ainsley Rix, who graduated in 2023, is currently studying concurrent education at Queen’s University. Sally Jeon, who graduated in 2023, is currently studying mechanical engineering at McGill University. Darcy Susel, who graduated in 2020, is going to study Law at Queen’s University. Veronica Grignano, who graduated in 2023, is currently studying Health Sciences at McMaster University. Due to the different pathways of each speaker, current students were introduced to a variety of post-secondary programs, specifically in STEM fields. Not only did they gain insight, but students also became inspired by the extraordinary experiences shared. We are so proud of these young women who have gone out and are excelling in male-dominated fields with confidence and determination. They are definitely inspiring the next generation of women in STEM. Thank you so much to our Robotics Captain, who organized this event. 

Preyanka
7659 Member

On May 1st, 2025, from 10:50 am- 11:15 am, students from the computer science class ran a flex block that showcased all of the teamwork and innovation from HNMCS Robotics. In this flex block, one teacher from each house drove a robot that was built and programmed for the 2024-2025 FIRST Robotics Canada Reefscape Competitions. With a student drive coach guiding them step by step through the obstacle course, and a student operator controlling the robot’s arm, the teachers performed to deliver coral and master the Deep Cage Climb! Each piece of coral that was successfully delivered was worth one point, and the Deep Cage Hang was worth three points. The house that accumulated the highest number of points was declared the winner.

By showcasing the exciting and innovative opportunities that FIRST Robotics offers students, 172 students across the HNMCS community were positively impacted. Although the teachers were the ones driving the robot, with students cheering them on, many felt inspired and eager to become part of the successful robotics team at HNMCS and couldn’t wait until the day they could drive the robot. When students become a part of the FIRST Robotics community, they gain a sense of accomplishment and develop a strong interest in STEM, which can lead to increased confidence, valuable real-world skills, and a passion for pursuing future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Almost every member of the Grades 11 and 12 computer science classes is also a member of the FRC7659, the FIRST Robotics team at HNMCS. This relationship between the two programs showcases the strength of interest in STEM that students at HNMCS possess. Students who have learned how to code in programs run by the FIRST Robotics team, whether in middle or senior school, have an advantage in the computer science programs over those who don’t. Students who have been active members of the team learned quick thinking skills and problem-solving abilities that can be applied to the computer science program. Whether the student was involved in driving the robot, building a practice field element, or creating the judges’ book, many changes can happen on the fly, and the student must be able to figure out a solution. This is helpful when it comes to computer science, where a problem may not always have the most obvious solution. It takes a problem solver, like the ones on the FRC7659 team, to be able to adapt and think quickly to fix a bug in a program.

HNMCS Robotics Members
ICS3U Students

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, our school, Holy Name of Mary College School, hosted our annual Spring Cafe Concert, and Ursula was at the front and centre! She performed during the opening act, collecting phones from our drama class, playing unhappy campers while the choir sang. We provided a memorial opening to the concert, which was well-received by the audience. 

Our team also hosted an informative concession stand at our Spring Cafe concert to help spread awareness about our team and all the accomplishments we’ve achieved throughout the season. We handed out flyers and displayed posters with key information about our all-girls’  Robotics FRC Team 7659. Since 2019, our team has expanded to over 50 members in the 2025 season, representing over 40% of the high school. Our posters highlighted how we integrate FIRST into our school’s curriculum by using robotics to demonstrate real-world applications of classroom concepts. We also shared how students are given opportunities to lead and participate in outreach events, both within HNMCS and in the broader community. It was a great opportunity to showcase who we are and everything we’ve accomplished. 

On team 7659, we heavily value the arts and work to integrate them into our team and school community. We understand that the arts inspire creativity, empathy, and expression, allowing us to enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. This is why we have our robot participate in the school’s concerts every year: to give students a chance to integrate arts and science in a meaningful, tangible way. Not only do we provide students in the robotics team with this opportunity, but we also encourage the broader student body. The robot in the Spring Cafe was worked on by the ICS3U computer science class. By integrating FIRST into the curriculum, we can foster hands-on learning, technical growth, and creative problem solving. Students can apply classroom knowledge in real-life scenarios.   

Our students use the software development tool Visual Studio Code, or VS Code for short. VS Code is a powerful and flexible software that is used in professional settings, while still being easy enough for students to learn to code from the bottom up. While VS Code supports a number of different programming languages, our robot is coded in Java. To assist with the coding process, programming aids, such as WPILib, are helpful. WPILib is the standard robotics software library for FIRST teams, it is a library providing essential classes and utilities needed when interacting with robot hardware.  

Simona, Admin Lead
Zoe and Racquel 7659 members

On April 28, 2025, Holy Name of Mary College School hosted visitors from the Felician Services Board and Our Lead of Hope Province Council to showcase some of the schools signature programmes. One of the programs included our very own senior school’s robotics team, HNMCS 7659 Robotics. We held a presentation highlighting our team’s core values, annual events like Engineering Career Night, the mission of FIRST, this year’s FRC game – REEFSCAPE, and  our achievements throughout the year (both on and off the field). Additionally, they had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of our 2025 robot, Ursula in action. Over 30 people attended our presentation. Towards the end, they became quite fond of Ursula and were quite impressed with her capabilities. Thank you to everyone who attended and we hope to see you in the near future. 

Preyanka
7659 Members

Here is a little bit from our Grade 12s of the team, our soon to be alumnis! 

“This week I had my last FIRST Robotics competition as a student. It was great to have my final event of four years on the team at the Ontario Provincials Championship. Provincials was the best way to end it! Shoutout to the team members and mentors, especially Dr. Kozma. I can’t wait to come back as an alumni to the team for the upcoming seasons!” – Jona, Business Lead

“I originally joined robotics for the cool team sweaters, but I stayed for the people, the energy, and the unforgettable experiences. Finishing off my time as a student at the Ontario Provincial Championship was the perfect way to end this chapter, and so lucky to have Dr. Kozma as our mentor! I’m excited to return as an alumni and keep supporting this amazing team in the seasons ahead!” – Megan, Communications Lead 

“It’s hard to believe that this is my last year on the robotics team. From late-night builds and last-minute fixes to the rush of competition, every moment has shaped who I am. In my first year, our robot didn’t even pass inspection, but honestly, that failure taught me more than any win ever could. Robotics taught me to lead, to collaborate, to fail forward, and, most importantly, to believe in what a dedicated team can accomplish. This year, qualifying for the Ontario Provincial Championship felt like the culmination of everything our team has worked for. Every challenge, every breakthrough, every teammate, and every mentor helped make this possible. I’m so proud of how far this team has come. Although my time as a student has ended, I cannot wait to become a mentor and help this team reach even higher!” – Maya, Team Captain

To these grade 12s: Thank you for believing in and growing with HNMCS Robotics. You are leaving your mark on the team in many ways and I am excited for each of your futures. – Dr. Kozma, Lead Mentor

On Saturday March 29, HNMCS Robotics embarked on a journey to McMaster University for the ONT District Event. On the first day of the competition, our scouting team worked tirelessly to scout the other teams and come up with ways to strategize our play. Our presentation team also had a great impact presentation. A big thank you to our mentors Kasthuri and Rebecca for helping us prepare!

On the final day of competition, we ranked tenth and proudly became the Alliance 7 captain! Along with teams 6110 and 7475, our team advanced to the third round of playoffs. 

Between competitions, an auto was added to Ursula, our 2025 competitive bot. The deep cage hang was also redesigned to improve efficiency: passive guides kept the cage vertical thereby increasing the lift; flex was reduced with custom gearbox mounts; and the gear ratio was increased by a factor of 3. With these changes, Ursula dominated the hang and had the highest end game average.

We’re excited to announce that our team qualified for provincials and is ready to give our all this week!

Nemine, Majella, Seana
7659 Members

The Centennial College event was an exciting milestone for Team 7659. We came in prepared, knowing this competition would challenge us to push our robot and teamwork to the next level. Throughout the event, our robot performed consistently, thanks to our drive team’s skill and our pit crew’s quick adjustments. We were honored to be the first pick of Alliance 8, a moment that reflected the dedication of our scouts and strategists who worked tirelessly to find the best partners for a strong playoff run.

During the playoffs, we put up a strong fight alongside our alliance partners. Each match tested our adaptability and teamwork, and while we were eliminated before the finals, we held our own against some of the top-seeded alliances. Our resilience, quick decision-making, and ability to adjust under pressure proved that we are a force to be reckoned with on the field.

We were thrilled to receive the Team Sustainability Award. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to outreach, mentorship, and making STEM accessible to all. From our initiatives promoting inclusivity in STEM to resource-sharing efforts that support other teams, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. This award reaffirms our mission to create lasting impact both on and off the field.

Another highlight of the event was our strong submission for the Impact Award. While we came up just short of taking it home this time, the experience reinforced our dedication to making a difference. Our outreach programs, mentorship initiatives, and advocacy for STEM accessibility continue to grow, and we are more determined than ever to refine our presentation and make an even greater impact at future competitions.

With valuable lessons from this event, we’re heading back to refine our robot, strengthen our strategies, and come back even stronger. We’re excited for the next challenge—see you at the McMaster event!

Holly
7659 Member

The Technical Tuesdays have finally started with a wonderful bang into the 2025 Robotics planning season. These girls have been working hard to create the prototypes for our new robot and understand the 2025 First Robotics Competition Reefscape games held in March. As the sessions progressed, the girls analyzed the videos sent by First Robotics Competition, discussing possible strategic ideas and sketching prototypes to understand the game and critically think of how they will make the best impact when participating in them. Special thanks to Dr. Kozma and Ms. Rebecca for lending their time to help guide these girls with their work. Well done and good luck, team 7659! 

Arisha
7659 Member

On behalf of the HNMCS 7659 Robotics team, we would like to express our heartfelt and immense gratitude for the incredible support we have received from our school community. In December, our team embarked on a fundraising initiative designed to raise awareness of the Robotics program and secure the necessary funds to expand our team’s possibilities and opportunities. We are proud to share this huge success, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, families, and supporters.

Through a combination of various efforts, we raised a total of $8,080 for our team. This includes $5,000 from our sponsors, $330 raised from our cookie sale at the Christmas Concert, and $2,750 from our matching campaign. This financial success would not have been possible without the incredible contributions of individuals and organizations who believe in the value of our team and our mission. We would like to extend a special thank you to our generous sponsors at ICON Constructors (Slowikowski family), whose contribution was instrumental to our campaign. Additionally, we are incredibly grateful to the Grignano, Kuon, and Opauszky families for their thoughtful and supportive donations. Your kindness and belief in the potential of our team have made a lasting impact on our program and our students. The funds raised through this campaign have enabled us to make significant investments in new equipment that will greatly enhance our capabilities and support our continued growth. Specifically, we have been able to purchase three new laptops, each of which will proudly display the ICON logo as a symbol of their generosity. In addition, we have acquired a high-tech 3D printer, which will play a crucial role in the development and prototyping of our robot designs. With these new tools at our disposal, we are more equipped than ever to continue fostering the technical skills and teamwork that are essential to our success. Our team members now have the resources they need to make the most of our Technical Tuesdays, where they collaborate to code the robot, and our build sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where they work hands-on to bring their ideas to life. These sessions are vital in helping our students develop not only their technical expertise but also their problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. 

We are deeply grateful for the support of our school community, and we cannot wait to see how this investment will empower our team to reach new heights. Thank you for helping to make the HNMCS 7659 Robotics team stronger, more innovative, and more prepared for the challenges ahead. Your contributions are helping shape the future of our team, and we are truly appreciative.

Lia 
7659 Member