Students compete in annual FIRST Robotics Competition: ‘It is incredibly exciting’

Mar 02, 2019
Education
In the News

WTVR, MATTHEW FULTZ

Thirty-seven teams of students from across Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. competed in the 19th annual FIRST Robotics Competition at Deep Run High School this weekend.

“Teams of students, working closely with teachers and volunteer mentors, have six weeks to conceptualize, design, build, program, modify and test a robot to participate in a competition that changes each year.

David Whitley, a student on Thomas Jefferson High School’s team, is competing again this year.

“We’re actually the only city school in FIRST Robotics competing at this level,” Whitley said.

The objective of the competition changes every year and Whitley said this year’s goal was challenging.

“For this year our goal is we have like hedge pieces and we have little balls and we make robots and try to configure them,” Whitley explained.

Newly elected Congressman Abigail Spanberger said the event highlights the importance of STEM learning.

“Walking through here seeing what some of these students have been able to do, it is incredibly exciting to see that this is what they’re doing in high school, what are they going to do in college and what are they going to do beyond,” Spanberger said.

The competition continues Sunday as teams compete for a spot in the district championships in April.

The free event is open to the public.

 

Recent Posts


Oct 11, 2024
Social Security, Medicare, & Retirement

NEW: Spanberger Pens Op-Ed Urging Colleagues to Vote to Pass Her Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO

The Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” Would Eliminate Two Provisions of the “Social Security Act” That Unfairly Reduce Benefits for Millions of Americans Who Have Devoted Much of Their Careers to Public Service Thanks to the Congresswoman’s Effort to Force a Vote on the Legislation, the “Social Security Fairness Act” Will Come to the U.S. […]



Oct 10, 2024
Energy & Environment

Spanberger Urges Speaker Johnson to Call U.S. House Back to Capitol Hill to Pass Emergency Appropriations Funding Following Hurricanes Helene & Milton

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is urging U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to call Members of Congress back to Capitol Hill to pass supplemental appropriations funds to support Virginia’s communities and communities across the Southeastern United State in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In a letter to Speaker Johnson, Spanberger and […]



Oct 10, 2024
Good Governance

NEW: Spanberger Ranked #1 Most Collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia, #3 in the Country

An “A” Bridge Grade is Given to Members of Congress Who Exemplify Governing Behaviors that Bridge Our Country Rather than Divide It WOODBRIDGE, Va. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger this week was ranked as the most collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia — and the third most collaborative lawmaker on Capitol Hill. Bridge Grades score […]