Local High School Robotics Team Wins Regional Title
A local high school robotics team secured first place in its regional competition. The victory earns the team a spot in the national championships. The team is now fundraising to cover the travel expenses for the upcoming national event.
- The national event the team qualified for is the FIRST Championship, which will take place from April 29 to May 2, 2026, in Houston, Texas, bringing together top teams from around the world. - Participation in robotics develops skills directly transferable to construction management, including managing budgets, meeting deadlines, and collaborating with a team to design and build a complex project. - Many Minnesota companies are major sponsors of robotics programs, including construction-adjacent firms like 3M and manufacturing companies such as Continental Engineering and Manufacturing (CEM), a Chaska-based machine shop that offers apprenticeships to team members. - The team's fundraising requires creating a detailed business plan and soliciting corporate sponsorships, providing practical experience in B2B sales and development—a common entry point into the construction industry. - The use of robotics is a growing trend within the construction sector itself, with firms deploying autonomous robots for site surveying, bricklaying, and 3D printing of building structures to increase efficiency and safety. - Minnesota has a large and competitive robotics community, with multiple regional events like the North Star and 10,000 Lakes regionals; in 2019, Edina High School's team won the competition's most prestigious national honor, the Chairman's Award.
