Three years after a handful of students began meeting in a converted storage room off the shop wing, the Winslow High robotics team has qualified for the spring regional tournament, the first time a Winslow squad has advanced past the district round.
The team earned its spot by finishing second in a district event, where its robot completed the ball-sorting challenge faster than every machine but one. Members say the breakthrough came from a redesigned intake arm they rebuilt twice in the final two weeks.
Built on a shoestring
The program runs on a modest activity budget, a grant from the parent-teacher group and a lot of donated parts. Students say the constraints have become part of the culture.
- The chassis frame was cut from surplus aluminum donated by a local welding shop
- Practice fields are taped out on the cafeteria floor after lunch
- Older members mentor incoming freshmen during a fall build camp
The adviser said the club now has a waiting list for the first time, and the school is weighing whether to add a second team next year. The regional competition takes place in April, and the team is fundraising to cover travel and registration.
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Further reading: FIRST Robotics Competition
