MACHIPONGO, VA- Northampton High School’s robotics team, The ShoreBots (Team 1908), capped off their most successful season in program history this year with an appearance at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas.
Competing in the Johnson Division, the ShoreBots finished their world-stage run with a commendable record. This performance placed Team 1908 in the top 8% of robotics teams worldwide and the top 9% nationally, making them one of only ten teams from Virginia to qualify for the World Championship this year.
The appearance follows a season of significant program milestones, including the team’s first regional event victory as the top pick of Alliance 1, serving as an Alliance Captain at the District Championships, and debuting the program’s first fully student-CAD-designed robot. The ShoreBots also excelled in judged honors, earning the Quality Award for robust robot fabrication and the Engineering Inspiration Award for advancing the appreciation of engineering within the local community.
The team’s historic success is the result of over 1,200 hours of student design, fabrication, and programming completed since January. Highlighting the program’s academic excellence, four graduating seniors from the team have committed to pursue engineering degrees this fall at the University of Virginia, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and Old Dominion University. As a small team from a rural community on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, the ShoreBots demonstrated that dedication and technical skill can successfully compete alongside the largest high school programs in the country.
“NCPS is proud of what these students have achieved,” said Dr. Lisa Martin, Superintendent of Northampton County Public Schools. “The ShoreBots represented us with academic and engineering excellence, and their success reflects both their hard work and the support of our community.”
Northampton County Public Schools congratulates the ShoreBots on their exemplary achievements this season.
About Northampton County Public Schools: Located at the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Northampton County Public Schools (NCPS) is a PreK-12 school division dedicated to providing a high-quality, inclusive education that reflects our community’s values. By balancing innovation with a supportive, small-school atmosphere, NCPS strives to prepare every learner to be a productive, responsible, and proud citizen. The division is committed to elevating instructional quality and expanding student support services to foster community pride and to ensure all students are ready for enrollment, employment, or enlistment in an ever-changing global society.
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