Arsène, Our Mascot: The Teammate We Took to Korea in Our Hearts
Meet Arsène, the energetic idea machine behind Team Bénin’s FGC 2026 mascot: a teammate who stayed home but travelled with us in every illustration, story and team memory.
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Every team needs a mascot. Ours came with a secret: she was already part of the team before we drew her.
Meet Arsène—our teammate, our mechanical and electrical lead, and the person whose energy, ideas and quick reactions have a way of making the whole workshop wake up. She notices things fast, thinks of possibilities even faster, and brings a spark that is very hard to fit inside a toolbox. We tried. The toolbox is now full of ideas.
Meet Arsène, mascot edition
When we created the illustrated girl holding Bénin’s flags, we were not inventing a random character. We were celebrating Arsène. The illustration became the mascot of Team Bénin for this year’s FIRST Global Challenge: a bright, playful version of the teammate we love having beside us.
Arsène works on the mechanical and electrical side of the robot, where a loose cable can ruin everyone’s day and a clever idea can save it. She brings energy to the build, ideas to the conversation and reactions quick enough to catch a problem before the rest of us have finished saying, “Wait, did that just…?”
A mascot can travel in more ways than one
Arsène did not travel with us to Korea. We missed having her there in person, of course. But being a teammate is bigger than getting on the plane, and being a mascot is an excellent way to make sure your spirit gets a seat anyway.
Her illustrated self came along in our visual identity and our stories. So while the rest of us worried about packing, robot checks and remembering where we put the charger, mascot-Arsène was already perfectly ready: no suitcase, no jet lag, and zero complaints about the airplane snacks.
We chose her as our mascot because she is one of us. Her energy, ideas and quick reactions are part of how Team Bénin feels. The drawing is a little celebration of that—and a reminder that every team member matters, whether they are on the competition floor, back home cheering, or represented by a very stylish illustration holding two flags.
Ten notes for Arsène
Everyone on the team has a little something to say to our mascot. Here is our team’s love, in ten small messages:
Richmond
Arsène brings ideas with the speed of a robot running code. The team is better—and much more awake—with you in it.
Ariel
You bring so much energy that even a long strategy discussion gets a little more fun. Our mascot has excellent team spirit because the real one does.
Arao
You notice things quickly and your ideas make us stop, think and try again. That is a powerful combination in a workshop—and in a teammate.
Arsène
To our own mascot: keep bringing the ideas, the reactions and the spark. We are cheering for you as loudly as you cheer us on.
Amos
You bring the kind of energy that can make a tricky build feel possible. Thanks for being someone we can count on.
Melvit
Our mascot is officially cooler than most game characters, because she is real—and she is on our team.
Paul
You bring new ideas to the build and make the workshop more lively. Even the robot would probably ask you what to try next.
Joshua
Fast reactions, fresh ideas and lots of energy: that sounds like a teammate who would beat me to the screwdriver. Respect.
Lucrèce
Your ideas make us ask “why not?” as often as I ask “but why?” Together, those questions help us build better things.
Ayman
Arsène is our mascot and our friend. She has lots of ideas, and I think the mascot should get a tiny robot too.
Arsène, this little page is our way of saying: we love your energy, we love your ideas, we love how quickly you jump in—and we are very glad you are part of Team Bénin. The mascot may be illustrated, but the affection is 100% real.
Takeaway for other teams
Make room for every teammate’s contribution, including the people who cannot travel. A team mascot can carry a real person’s story and spirit—and remind everyone that belonging is not measured by who gets on the plane.