Four Mars Area School District students competed as members of Mars Robotics Association’s MARS: Curiosity? Team at the Pennsylvania FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Championship, held March 8-9 at Bellefonte Area High School.

The team, which included junior Santiago Beltran, sophomore Lindsay Gourash, and sixth-grader Braelen Richards, went undefeated in the competition’s qualifier matches and were named Alliance Captains in the elimination matches.

In addition sophomores Alex Hutchens was selected as finalist for the FIRST Dean’s List Award, which recognizes those participants, who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the FIRST core values and who serve as a role model to their fellow team members.

For more information, visit www.marsroboticsassociation.org.