ROBOTICS
Empowering students through innovation, teamwork, and hands-on STREAM experiences. Our Mighty Bees Robotics Team continues to grow, attracting students passionate about engineering, coding, problem-solving, and teamwork. With students competing at both the Elementary School and Middle School levels, our program fosters innovation, collaboration, and leadership through real-world STRAEM challenges.
2024-25 Season Highlights
Year Three: 2024-2025 – SUBMERGED
Theme: Oceanic Exploration
Student Project: ATS – The Arduino Turbidity System
A prototype wearable sensor designed to measure water clarity, enhancing swimmer safety along coastlines.
Awards & Accomplishments:
- Regional Competition: 9th place out of over 100+ teams in South Florida region.
- Core Values Award: Recognized at the Qualifier level
- Hosted Tournament: Organized an on-campus event featuring 10 teams
2023-24 Season Highlights
Year Two: 2023-2024 – MASTERPIECE
Theme: Interactive Exploration
Student Project: The Anywhere Machine
Utilizing an MIT Makey Makey pad integrated with maps, this project encourages physical activity by allowing users to “walk” through virtual explorations.
Awards & Accomplishments:
- Coach of the Year: Awarded to Brett & Peter on February 17, 2024, in South Florida
- Core Values Award & Innovative Project Award: Honored for exceptional teamwork and creativity
- Hosted Tournament: Organized an on-campus event featuring 10 teams
2022-23 Season Highlights
Year One: 2022-2023 – SUPERPOWERED
Theme: Energy and Movement
Student Project: Rechargeable Shoes with Kinetic Energy
Designed for soccer players, these shoes harness kinetic energy from movement to power small devices.
Awards & Accomplishments:
- 3rd Place Core Values Award: Celebrated for outstanding team spirit and collaboration
- Breakthrough Award: Recognized for innovative engineering solutions
Meet the Coaches
Brett Hannan
M.Eng. Computational Sciences
2021 & 2024 South Florida Robotics Coach of the Year
FIRST LEGO Education Ambassador
Peter Valastro
M.Ed. Educational Technology
2024 South Florida Robotics Coach of the Year
Hosted Tournaments at Centner Academy
Fostering community and showcasing talent.
Over the past two years, Centner Academy has proudly hosted tournaments, welcoming teams from various regions to compete and collaborate in the spirit of innovation.
Fast Facts & Team Achievements
Our team competes in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitions, excelling in robot design, coding, innovation projects, and core values demonstrations. Over the past three years, The Mighty Bees have earned multiple awards at local, regional, and state-level tournaments, consistently demonstrating technical expertise, creativity, and sportsmanship.
🏆 2025 – Regional Success: Ranked 9th place in South Florida out of 120+ teams at Regionals.
🏆 2025 – Core Values Award: Recognized at the Miami Coral Park Qualifier for teamwork and leadership.
🏆 2025 – Hosted FLL Tournament: Welcomed 100+ students to Centner Academy’s second annual FLL event.
🏆 2024 – Coach of the Year: Brett & Peter named South Florida FIRST LEGO League Coaches of the Year.
🏆 2024 – Innovation Award: Recognized for The Anywhere Machine, an MIT Makey Makey-powered project.
🏆 2024 – Core Values Award: Earned 3rd place at South Florida Regionals among 200+ teams.
🏆 2024 – Hosted FLL Tournament: Welcomed 100+ students to Centner Academy’s first annual FLL event.
🏆 2023 – Breakthrough Award: FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship winner for Conductive Shoe Project.
🏆 2023 – STEM Program Expansion: Awarded $6,000 in robotics kits to support lower school initiatives.
🏆 2023 – LEGO HQ Visit: Recognized by LEGO Headquarters (New Hampshire) for robotics excellence.
🚀 Join the Mighty Bees and compete with one of the top robotics teams in South Florida!
Team News & Events
Robotics Program at Centner Academy Thrives with Support from FIRST LEGO League
$8,000 in Funding and Professional Development Grant to Expand Program and Fuel Student Success
We are excited to share an update on the Robotics program at our school. Our students have been working hard and making great progress in their studies of robotics and we are thrilled to share some of the exciting developments that have taken place recently.
The FIRST LEGO Program recently visited Centner Academy, and it was a huge success! Their team had an amazing time learning about CA robotics and witnessing the fun and hands-on activities in the classroom. FIRST LEGO League is a program that introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children ages 4-16 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. The program aims to provide real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping students and teachers build a better future together. In FIRST LEGO League, students engage in hands-on STEM experiences, building confidence, growing their knowledge, and developing habits of learning. The program also focuses on critical thinking, coding, and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics.
We are excited to announce that Centner Academy has received funding of $7,000 in robotic kits and a $1,000 professional development grant from FIRST LEGO League. This generous funding will allow our robotics program to grow and expand in exciting new ways, providing our students with the necessary resources to excel in the field of robotics and the teachers with the opportunity to stay updated with the latest developments in the field. We are thrilled to receive this support and can’t wait to see the innovations and achievements that will come out of this program. This generous funding will allow our robotics program to grow and expand in exciting new ways.
On Saturday, the robotics students had a practice session and counted over 17,000 LEGO pieces from their grant kits. They are looking forward to competing in the upcoming robotics competition and showing off their skills.
At Centner Academy, we recognize the importance of supporting robotics as a 21st century skill. Robotics is a rapidly growing field, and it is essential for students to have the opportunity to learn and explore in this area. We are committed to providing our students with the resources and support they need to succeed in the field of robotics.
Mighty Bees Rank 9th in Regional Robotics
Centner Academy’s robotics team, The Mighty Bees, secured 9th place in the South Florida region’s competition, demonstrating remarkable engineering and problem-solving skills. Their robot successfully earned 265 points in under
Centner Academy Hosts Annual Robotics Tournament
With over 100 students in attendance, Centner Academy proudly hosted its annual FIRST LEGO League Tournament, opening doors to the greater robotics community. Students took on key roles as referees,
Mighty Bees Advance to Regional Finals
At the Qualifying finals, The Mighty Bees earned high marks for their turbidity monitoring project, a pioneering initiative addressing environmental concerns in Miami. Their innovation, teamwork, and strong research foundation
Centner Academy Expands Robotics with Grant
Centner Academy was awarded $6,000 in robotics kits to expand its elementary STEM program, providing younger students with access to cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning experiences. This grant supports new
First LEGO League Tournament at Centner Academy
Centner Academy opened its doors for the FIRST LEGO League Tournament, allowing students to gain real-world experience in event management, judging, and refereeing. High school students also led fundraising activities,
Centner Coaches Named Best in South Florida
FIRST LEGO League recognized Centner Academy coaches Brett and Peter as South Florida Coaches of the Year, an honor that highlights their dedication to STREAM education, mentorship, and student development.
Mighty Bees Innovate with ‘Anywhere Machine’
The Mighty Bees secured a regional bid for their MIT Makey Makey-powered ‘Anywhere Machine’, an interactive system designed to enhance cognitive engagement through movement. This groundbreaking project enables users to
Mighty Bees Earn Core Values Award
Competing against over 40 teams in the South Florida Regional Tournament, The Mighty Bees earned the prestigious 3rd Place Core Values Award, a testament to their dedication, teamwork, and leadership.
Ignite curiosity and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning in a nurturing and engaging environment. Our preschool program fosters creativity, emotional growth, and early problem-solving skills, preparing young learners for a bright future.
Inspire the leaders of tomorrow through a challenging, well-rounded education that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation. Our Elementary School challenges students to think big, explore their potential, and embrace a love for learning.
Empower students to explore their passions and grow as leaders in an engaging academic environment. With a focus on entrepreneurial thinking and hands-on learning, our Middle School program prepares students for High School and beyond.
Transform your passion into purpose at Centner Academy High School. Through challenging academics and real-world experiences, our students gain the skills to excel in college, entrepreneurship, and life!
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