LUMBERTON — A team of talented student innovators from Public Schools of Robeson County is headed to the FIRST Robotics World Championship after earning one of only two available slots designated for rookie teams from North Carolina. The prestigious international competition will be held in Houston from April 29 through May 2.
Advised by educator Nancy Townsend, the Lumberton Robotics Team’s journey to the world stage is a story of determination, resilience and rapid growth. In just three weeks, students successfully transitioned from competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program to becoming a fully competitive FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team.
Their progress came despite unexpected setbacks, including the loss of valuable preparation time due to school repairs following water damage. Even so, the students remained focused, working tirelessly to design, build and compete at a level that earned them state-wide recognition. That earned recognition has propelled them onto the world stage.
“Their accomplishment says so much about the talent, resilience, and perseverance of our students,” Townsend said. “To rise to this level in such a short amount of time is extraordinary. They are proving that Robeson County students can compete with the best in the world.”
Participation in the world championship offers students hands-on experiences that can shape future careers in engineering, technology, robotics and advanced manufacturing—industries that are vital to the region’s future economic success. It also places Lumberton and all of Robeson County on the world-wide stage, along with other teams competing from around the U.S. and as far away as Australia and China.
“This is about more than a competition,” said PSRC Science Supervisor Susan Miller-Hendrix. “It is about opening doors, building confidence and showing our students that their future is bright and full of possibility.”
The “Iron Corsairs” robotics team extends its sincere appreciation to its sponsors, the Robeson County Board of Commissioners, and the Lumberton City Council for their generous donations and strong support – along with other local businesses and individuals – as students prepare to travel to Texas to compete.
“We are so excited for our students to compete on an international stage and represent the Public Schools of Robeson County. What an incredible opportunity and testament to the excellence of this team!” said PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson. “I would like to congratulate these students for this prestigious honor."
To learn more about the team’s travel or to share support for the team, please contact Nancy Townsend at nancy.townsend@robeson.k12.nc.us.