Team 79 is a FIRST robotics team based out of Clearwater, Fl. East Lake High School and Tarpon Springs High School both make up the team. Team 79 holds their meetings in the East Lake High School Engineering room and at the Honeywell Plant.
Team History Team 79′s rookie year was 1998. Team 79 was founded by Mrs. Phebus and Mrs. Svabek, two teachers at East Lake High School. Team Krunch is now lead by Coach Paul Wahnish and Mrs. Linda Wahnish. Under Coach Paul Wahnish Team 79 has started a 501 c.3 corporation called Robotics Boosters Inc., mow called CTEF, as a way for the team to make money off several large Engineering programs. East Lake High School is home to the recently accredited Academy of Engineering, a four year program offering students the opportunity to study Project Lead the Way curriculum, and gain credit from engineering colleges across the nation. Team 79 has many wonderful sponsors, but the first and foremost is Honeywell, a company who has been extremely dedicated from the start. Team 79 reaches out to the community in many ways. Some of Team Krunch’s Community efforts include hosting a Summer Workshops program for kids. Kids of all ages are given the exciting and fulfilling opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge and experience in robotics, basic physics, science, math and technology while having fun building competitive robots. Team 79 also has recently begun Girls Inc., a program providing girls’ ages 11 to 15 with the intense, yet fulfilling opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge and experience learning basic physics, math, science, technology, and robotics. Team 79 has also hosted many Lego League teams, Lego League tournaments, and has assisted Extreme Makeover: Home Edition by building a robotic-themed room for Charlie Dolan. Team 79 is celebrating 10 years of inspiration this year, a decade of FIRST.
Team 79′s Name Team 79 has recently changed their name to Team Krunch. Before this we have been known as The Navigators. The idea to name Team 79′s robots “Captain Krunch” came from the fact that Team 79 was to be sponsored by General Mills Cereal, maker of Captain Krunch cereal. After that sponsorship fell through, Team 79 decided to keep their original name and theme for their robots.
Team 79′s Goal Our goal is to unite Mentors, Engineers, and Students with Engineering and Robotics. We will learn by using positive attitudes, the latest technology, the will to influence the community, and by commiting acts of gracious professionalism on and off the playing field. After a successful year last year we hope to again raise the bar and be as successful as possible. To do this we need more interested East Lake High area students to come and try out robotics for size and hopefully someday become a committed alumni.
Team 79′s Future Plans-To continue to host successful Summer Workshops and Girls Inc. programs each year. -To host an off-season event at the USF Sun Dome this year. -To win the National Chairman’s Award and set an example for all future and current FIRST team