The Lynx Initiative

Cowtown is a wrap. We finished middle of the pack. But we made hard choices and had some amazing team building. For a rookie team from Alaska we did really well and are motivated to push our engineering to the next level this upcoming season.

Hackfish worked hard and had several close matches. We had lots of fun seeing the longhorn cattle drive after our last match.

Thank you Coach Heather for the amazing Alaska flag with light up stars.

Cowtown Ready.

T - 20 hours. Driving and judging practice.

The Hackfish have made it to Ft Worth. Had time to do some team bonding at a local arcade. What’s better than going to the Electric Starship Arcade.

The count down to Cowtown is at T - one week!!! V2 the Banshee (it’s pretty loud) is in its carry case with our team captains. Next up Saturday plane ride to Ft. Worth.

You got this Hackfish. We know you will represent Alaska well!!!

The Tanya Black
Empowerment Award is presented to an individual who empowers students to lead, problem solve, and believe in their own abilities.

This year’s award winner is Heather Holland.

As the TLI technical coach, you bring knowledge and experience to the team, but one of your greatest strengths is your willingness to openly say, “I don’t know,” and then turn to students who do. In doing so, you create an environment where students feel trusted to contribute ideas, explain concepts, and lead discussions with confidence.

You approach robotics as a collaborative process where learning matters more than having every answer immediately. Because of that, students feel encouraged to think critically, solve problems, and trust their own abilities.

Your mentorship reminds students that engineering is not about perfection. It is about curiosity, adaptability, teamwork, and the confidence to keep learning.

For the confidence you build in students and the leadership you model through trust, collaboration, and empowerment, we are proud to present you with the 2026 Tanya Black Empowerment Award.

Congratulations Heather!!!!

The Avery Seeman
Perserverance Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates resilience, composure, and the courage to stand their ground when it matters most.

This years award winner is Everyn Co-Captain of 29659 The Hackfish.

For remaining composed in a moment that would have been overwhelming for many competitors.

During competition, you respectfully requested that a gameplay ruling be reviewed and stayed engaged through a lengthy discussion with officials and older competitors alike. Throughout the process, you represented your team with professionalism, preparation, and maturity well beyond your years.

Your attention to detail and understanding of the game ultimately helped officials recognize that the original ruling had been made in error and changed the outcome of the match in your team’s favor. That moment helped carry your team to a second-place finish.

More importantly, you demonstrated the kind of thoughtful leadership that earns respect from the people around you and confidence from the teammates beside you.

For the example you set both on and off the field, we are proud to present you with the 2026 Avery Seeman Perseverance Award.

Congratulations Everyn!!!

The Kanna Loer Industry Award is presented to an individual who has strengthened their team or The Lynx Initiative through partnerships, initiative, and community connection.

This year’s award winner is Ryan from 3825 Ψ Lynx.

For jumping in headfirst and helping create opportunities that allowed teams and students to succeed.

As a freshman, you immediately became a driving force behind helping programs grow. You helped connect sponsors who donated laptops to Mears students, assisted in securing transportation so teams could attend Valley meets, and continually looked for ways to remove barriers for younger students.

But more importantly, you became a bridge between older students and younger teams. You earned the trust of middle school students, helped them feel like they belonged in robotics, and stepped in whenever problems needed solving. Whether that meant finding the right mentor, locating the proper equipment, or connecting students with someone who could help keep a build moving forward, you made things happen.

Even after leaving Mears for high school, you continued investing in the students and programs that inspired you to join The Lynx Initiative in the first place.

For your initiative, your leadership, and the connections you created that strengthened opportunities for others, we are proud to present you with the 2026 Kanna Loer Industry Award.

Congratulations Ryan!!!

The Anna Pool Inclusion Award is presented to an individual who goes beyond expectations to ensure every student feels supported, included, and cared for within the team community.

This year’s award goes to Coach Britany Brown of FLL teams 64877 & 33791 and FTC teams 3825, 29659, and 25625.

For the countless ways you make students feel supported, included, and cared for, often without anyone fully realizing how much you are doing behind the scenes.

What began as “just bringing pizza” became something much bigger. You created traditions that made students feel welcomed and valued, while always thinking about the needs of everyone at the table, including making sure gluten-free students had meals they could safely enjoy alongside the rest of the team.

Like Anna before you, you quietly handle the details that keep programs functioning. From helping with administration and fundraising coordination to logging into the FIRST dashboard when things need to get done, you consistently step in wherever support is needed.

You rarely ask for recognition, yet your support is woven into every success our teams have experienced.

For your compassion, your advocacy, and the way you make people feel like they belong, we are proud to present you with the 2026 Anne Pool Inclusion Award.

Congratulations Coach!!!