High school students from across New England are gathering in Durham this weekend to test their robot-building skills.Nonprofit organization FIRST Robotics is hosting the New England District Robotics Competition at the University of New Hampshire.Starting Saturday, 37 high school teams are participating in a competition to design, build, and program robots to compete for points.The current season starts in January, where teams of high school students can compete for both judged and performance awards.Different awards can qualify teams to move on to the championships. Two alliances of three teams each compete on the field at the same time in unique planned challenges.This year’s theme is “Rebuilt,” with an emphasis on students constructing bots that have elements of game pieces from competitions over the last decade.Kari Karwedsky, the event chair, notes that there’s a variety of team roles for kids to take on that go beyond just the engineering aspect. “It’s all about being together. These kids act like little mini companies, and that’s really fantastic,” she said. “So there’s a place for everyone in this community.” Camden Chesley is the president of the FIRST Robotics team for Saint Thomas Aquinas. A participant since his freshman year, the now-junior sees how the experiences from his team can set him up for success in his dream job as an engineer.”It’s truly something I’m passionate for. I love engineering, and I love STEM,” Chesley said. “We started just as a bunch of students in a room, and we kind of become a real group of friends.”Despite the strong turnout, FIRST says it has seen a drop in student involvement since the pandemic. It also aligns with national trends in the classroom. Data from fall 2025 shows eighth-grade students across the country in all percentiles scored lower on their understanding of science in 2024.Those numbers come from the National Assessment Governing Board’s “National Report Card,” which measures student academic success based on pre-established benchmarks.As enrollment drops amid sinking science comprehension, FIRST adds that it still aims to inspire students by showcasing future opportunities that science can provide.”Some are really interested in science and technology. Others come to it because their friends are in it, and it pulls them all together,” Karwedsky said.For students like Chesley, they’re already seeing their future laid out for them. “FIRST is really one of the best decisions I ever made in my high school career,” he said. “It really helped me grow as a person and as a student in all aspects.”The competition continues Sunday, and is one of 11 district events across New England leading up to the district championship in April.Winners of the district championship will advance to the national championship in Houston, Texas.
High school students from across New England are gathering in Durham this weekend to test their robot-building skills.
Nonprofit organization FIRST Robotics is hosting the New England District Robotics Competition at the University of New Hampshire.
Starting Saturday, 37 high school teams are participating in a competition to design, build, and program robots to compete for points.
The current season starts in January, where teams of high school students can compete for both judged and performance awards.
Different awards can qualify teams to move on to the championships. Two alliances of three teams each compete on the field at the same time in unique planned challenges.
This year’s theme is “Rebuilt,” with an emphasis on students constructing bots that have elements of game pieces from competitions over the last decade.
Kari Karwedsky, the event chair, notes that there’s a variety of team roles for kids to take on that go beyond just the engineering aspect. “It’s all about being together. These kids act like little mini companies, and that’s really fantastic,” she said. “So there’s a place for everyone in this community.” Camden Chesley is the president of the FIRST Robotics team for Saint Thomas Aquinas.
A participant since his freshman year, the now-junior sees how the experiences from his team can set him up for success in his dream job as an engineer.
“It’s truly something I’m passionate for. I love engineering, and I love STEM,” Chesley said. “We started just as a bunch of students in a room, and we kind of become a real group of friends.”
Despite the strong turnout, FIRST says it has seen a drop in student involvement since the pandemic. It also aligns with national trends in the classroom. Data from fall 2025 shows eighth-grade students across the country in all percentiles scored lower on their understanding of science in 2024.
Those numbers come from the National Assessment Governing Board’s “National Report Card,” which measures student academic success based on pre-established benchmarks.
As enrollment drops amid sinking science comprehension, FIRST adds that it still aims to inspire students by showcasing future opportunities that science can provide.
“Some are really interested in science and technology. Others come to it because their friends are in it, and it pulls them all together,” Karwedsky said.
For students like Chesley, they’re already seeing their future laid out for them.
“FIRST is really one of the best decisions I ever made in my high school career,” he said. “It really helped me grow as a person and as a student in all aspects.”
The competition continues Sunday, and is one of 11 district events across New England leading up to the district championship in April.
Winners of the district championship will advance to the national championship in Houston, Texas.