By Siddhesh Saravanan
Seminole High School Student Writer
Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School and Sanford Middle School recently hosted their annual Magnet STEM Nights, featuring a variety of exciting and educational attractions for visitors. One of the main highlights at both events was Team 9930 Robo-Knights, a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team known for its passion for robotics, innovation and following the principle of gracious professionalism.
The Robo-Knights proudly showcased one of their robots from a previous season, the robot from the 2023–24 CENTERSTAGE season, affectionately nicknamed “The Beast.” Throughout the evening, team members engaged students, parents, and guests from both schools, sharing insights about their robotics journey, their frequent use of 3D printing, programming, and CAD, and their experiences in competitions. Visitors were also given the chance to drive the robot and see it in action, while learning about the awards the team has earned for creativity, engineering, and teamwork. Guests learned how the Robo-Knights use CAD software to design custom parts that enhance robot performance and how those designs are brought to life through 3D printing technology. Through these demonstrations, visitors witnessed firsthand how creativity, engineering, coding, and collaboration come together not just to build robots, but to build lifelong skills and strong team bonds.
Overall, the STEM nights at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School and Sanford Middle School offered a captivating and inspiring experience for more than 400 attendees. The Robo-Knights’ engaging presentation motivated many young visitors to explore their own potential in STEM fields and demonstrated the meaningful impact of FIRST robotics on education and the community. The Robo-Knights FTC Team 9930 did a fantastic job representing robotics and innovation, impressing students, parents, and teachers alike with their hands-on robot demonstrations and passionate explanations of how robotics connects to science, technology, engineering, and math. Their enthusiasm truly embodied the spirit of STEM education, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who attended. As proud representatives of FIRST, the Robo-Knights Team 9930 continues to light the way for future builders, coders, and leaders, carrying the torch of STEM into the future.
