Team 1403 was founded in 2004 with the help of two transfer students from Hillsborough and Bound Brook. They helped spark interest in what would later become Cougar Robotics.
The team had the full support of the Montgomery Township School Board, the former Vice Principal Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Kloberg, who was a senior mentor of FIRST Robotics. The team kicked off its first year with great success, receiving numerous accolades at regional competitions and earning the opportunity to go to the World Championships. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons, 1403 was advised by Mr. O’Toole. In 2007, Mr. Leicht, the former MHS technology education teacher took on the role of Team Advisor. After 17 years and the team’s 20th season, Mr. Leicht retired in 2024, making way for the advisors Mr. Brady, a current MHS math teacher, and Mrs. Calhoun, a current physics teacher.
1403 has greatly transformed since 2004. From the team’s two original founders, 1403 has grown to over a hundred passionate members, who are interested in the engineering and business principles required to make our team successful.
Awards Won
| Year | Event | Award |
| 2024 | FMA District Hatboro-Horsham Event | Gracious Professionalism Award |
| FMA District Montgomery Event | District Event Winner | |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship | Excellence in Engineering Award | |
| 2023 | FMA District Robbinsville Event | District FIRST Impact Award |
| FMA District Montgomery Event | District Event Winner Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors | |
| 2022 | FMA District Mount Olive Event | District Event Winner Quality Award |
| FMA District Montgomery Event | District Chairman’s Award | |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship | Regional Chairman’s Award (Championship Qualifying) | |
| 2021 | FIRST Mid-Atlantic Regional Level Championship | Regional Engineering Inspiration Award District Chairman’s Award |
| Group Iron | Innovation Award Semifinalists | |
| 2020 | FMA District Hatboro-Horsham | District Chairman’s Award FMA Donald Bowers Inspiration Award |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship | Regional Chairman’s Award | |
| 2019 | FMA District Mount Olive Event | District Chairman’s Award FMA Donald Bowers Inspiration Award |
| FMA District Bridgewater-Raritan Event | District Event Winner Entrepreneurship Award sponsored by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers | |
| FMA District Montgomery Event | District Event Finalist Quality Award sponsored by Motorola Solutions Foundation | |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship | Regional Chairman’s Award (Championship Qualifying) | |
| FIRST Championship – Detroit – Archimedes Subdivision | Gracious Professionalism Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson (Championship Division) | |
| 2018 | MAR District Mount Olive Event | Judges’ Award |
| MAR District Montgomery Event | Quality Award sponsored by Motorola Solutions Foundation | |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship | FIRST Dean’s List Finalist Award Gracious Professionalism Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson | |
| 2017 | MAR District – Mount Olive Event | District Event Finalist |
| MAR District – Montgomery Event | Gracious Professionalism Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson | |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship sponsored by Johnson and Johnson | Volunteer of the Year | |
| 2016 | MAR District – Mt. Olive Event | Innovation in Control Award sponsored by Rockwell Automation |
| MAR District – Bridgewater-Raritan Event | Judges’ Award | |
| MAR District – Montgomery Event | District Chairman’s Award | |
| Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Championship | FIRST Championship District Points Qualifying Team (Championship Qualifying) | |
| 2015 | MAR District – Hatboro-Horsham Event | District Event Finalist Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors |
| MAR District – Bridgewater- Raritan Event | District Event Winner Quality Award sponsored by Motorola | |
| Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Championship | Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors | |
| 2014 | MAR FIRST Robotics Mt. Olive District Competition | Finalist Quality Award sponsored by Motorola |
| MAR FIRST Robotics Bridgewater-Raritan District Competition | Quality Award sponsored by Motorola | |
| 2013 | Hatboro-Horsham FIRST Robotics District Competition | Engineering Inspiration Award |
| Virginia Regional | Engineering Excellence Award sponsored by Delphi | |
| Lenape Seneca FIRST Robotics District Competition | Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors | |
| Mid-Atlantic Robotics FRC Region Championship | Regional Finalist | |
| 2012 | Rutgers University FIRST Robotics District Competition | Quality Award sponsored by Motorola Regional Finalist |
| Mount Olive FIRST Robotics District Competition | Quality Award sponsored by Motorola Regional Finalist | |
| 2011 | Philadelphia Regional | Engineering Excellence Award sponsored by Delphi |
| 2010 | New Jersey Regional | Regional Chairman’s Award |
| 2009 | Philadelphia Regional | Chrysler Team Spirit Award |
| 2008 | New Jersey Regional | Regional Chairman’s Award |
| 2007 | New Jersey Regional | Regional Engineering Inspiration Award |
| 2005 | Buckeye Regional | Regional Finalists Xerox Creativity Award |
| 2004 | New Jersey Regional | Highest Rookie Seed Rookie All Star Award |