On Monday morning, a coach bus pulled away from Great Neck South High School, beginning a roughly 1,500-mile journey to Houston, Texas. On board were about 40 students, a 125-pound robot, a 3D printer and months of preparation packed into toolboxes and laptops. A few miles away, 17 students from Great Neck North High School spent the day preparing for their Tuesday flight to the same destination.

Both teams are headed to theFIRST World Championships, an international robotics competition that draws top student teams from around the globe. It marks the first time both Great Neck schools have qualified in the same season, a milestone for the district’s growing STEM programs.

For North High’s team, akaThe Goatbusters, the trip is a first.

“This is something new for our program,” said Coach Michael McDermott. “The students are excited, but they also understand the level they’re stepping into. After qualifying, they kept working and refining because they want to be ready.”

Founded in 2007, South High’s team,Rebel Robotics, has made multiple appearances on the world stage. This year about 40 students will represent the 100-member program, filling roles beyond building the robot, such as programming, scouting, outreach, and media.

Both teams compete under the umbrella of FIRST—For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology—but in different divisions. South High participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition, which features larger robots and fast-paced matches. North High competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge, where smaller robots demand precision design and strategy.

This season marked a shift for The Goatbusters. For the first time, students designed their robot entirely from scratch using computer-aided design software, moving away from pre-fabricated kits used in previous years.

“They took ownership of the entire process,” McDermott said. “From the design to the adjustments after competitions, everything was student-driven.”

That approach helped carry the team through an undefeated season on Long Island and a championship win that secured their place in Houston. Even after qualifying, students continued refining their robot, making changes to improve flexibility and scoring.

South High also found success this season, earning Excellence in Engineering awards at regional competitions. Their robot features a system that collects and launches game pieces while in motion, using cameras and programming to stay aligned with targets.

Source: LI Press