When you walk into the robotics lab at China Spring High School, creativity and opportunity are in motion - students are taking their learning beyond their desks, programming and designing machines that work autonomously, without a manual.
Tucked in an unassuming building at the back of campus, 17 students in the China Spring ISD Engineering Career and Technical Education program practicum are designing and building competition robots. The pathway focuses on designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining robotic systems. The practicum class currently consists of juniors, and this is the first year students have built robots, laying the foundation for a new cohort to join next year. In total, 109 students, grades 9-11, are enrolled in the engineering pathway at China Spring High School.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, the students will debut robots they built entirely from scratch, with no instruction manual or kit - just their innovation. "Whatever we do tomorrow is a win," says teacher Brendan Smith. "We are taking the first steps forward to what we think is going to be a great program at China Spring."
The students are divided into three teams, each responsible for crafting its own robot. The machines will compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge presented by RTX. In this program, students work alongside mentors to design and build dynamic robots for competition. The challenge gives students the opportunity to develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation and build confidence to help them succeed.
For the first 30 seconds of each match, the robots operate autonomously, completing tasks without student control. In the final two minutes, students drive the robots to scoop up whiffle balls and shoot them into baskets. Thursday's meet is the first of three league competitions; the top teams will advance to the league tournament, and the top eight teams will move on to regional, area and state competitions.
While the competition is important, Smith says he values the lessons beyond robotics. "We are using the robots to build 17 humans," he says. "We are preparing them for whatever they want to accomplish and to make a difference in the world when they leave here."
Students notice the impact too. Student Corey Jamison shares, "This is not an opportunity that many students get to have, and I'm grateful."
Match play begins Thursday at 4:30 pm at the St. Louis Activity Center: 2415 Cumberland Ave, Waco, TX 76708. The competition is open for the public to attend.