Rockwall, TX (May 13, 2025) – Team 1296, Full Metal Jackets from Rockwall High School, competed this year in the FIRST in Texas Robotics State Championship in Houston on April 2nd – 5th, 2025 after qualifying in their district competitions.
The team spent over 13 weeks building a robot that can meet the challenge of this year’s REEFSCAPE game FIRST released on January 4, 2025. The team works year round to spread the word of STEM and FIRST both locally and nationally, and as a result of these efforts, the team was awarded with the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Waco District event based on the team’s community outreach efforts.
Team 1296 is a charter member of Student Association for STEM Advocacy (SASA) and has attended the National Advocacy Conference since 2016.
The team works with Scouts of America to help scouts earn their robotics merit badge, collects old cell phones for Secure the Call to be refurbish and given to domestic violence victims, works with Empower7 for their Project Self Esteem to collect hygiene products to assist disadvantaged teens, mentors FLL (FIRST LEGO League) teams, and helps with the Rockwall ISD STEM summer camps.
The team advanced to the Texas State Championship where the drive team competed in the REEFSCAPE game while other students presented for the Engineering Inspirations Award with the above initiatives on April 3rd, 2025. On April 5, Team 1296 won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the FIRST State Championship for the first time in team history. This advanced the team for automatic qualification for the World Championship on April 16th – 19th.
Whether mentoring the next generation of STEM innovators or advocating for STEM awareness and funding, Team 1296 will let everyone know that they believe, ANYONE CAN DO STEM!
Submitted by Danna Taylor, RHS Robotics Booster Club, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy photo.
Full Metal Jackets win Engineering Inspiration award at Texas state championship added by Melanie M on
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