After the 2025 UIL Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) season, and the 2026 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competitions (FRC), the team is reflecting in order to prepare for future seasons of these competitions. They’re focused on the creativity and family vibe of robotics.
“Before robotics, I didn’t know people like Wesley [Frazier] or Kendyl [Gallagher],” Head of design for BEST, junior Jonah Oliveros-Ortiz said. “I didn’t even know some of my own classmates as well as I do now due to Robotics. It is a whole new family where everyone understands each other and is full of camaraderie. It has really helped me grow closer to both upperclassmen and underclassmen.”
Head of art department, junior Kaia Hatch, enjoys the creative aspects and collaboration of Robotics the most.
“I really enjoy getting to create something new and getting to work with others, working on a project and just getting closer with people,” Hatch said. “[In the future I want to] figure out different ways to promote the team and get designs that encompass what everyone does on the team to show the full scale of what goes into it.”
Part of reflecting is, of course, coming up with goals for future seasons based off of what has been learned.
“I hope next year we can build a better robot and do better in competitions,” sophomore Ryan Penrod said. “I hope that I have a better task next year to help out the team more.”
Not only are they working on robotics in the present, but some of them also plan to continue to do robotics past high school.
“…That’s one of my big things that I’m looking for in college, that they have a robotics program,” Oliveros-Ortiz said. “Whether it’s competition or just recreational, I would love to stay involved in robotics.”
A big part of robotics has always been collaboration. Because of this, one thing that stayed on everyone’s mind was how it has impacted their friendships.
“[Robotics] definitely helped me gain my closest friend, build those friendships and introduce me to a whole community I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Hatch said.
Hatch isn’t the only one thinking about others. Oliveros-Ortiz has some suggestions for future members of the team.
“Be prepared to think,” Oliveros-Ortiz said. “A lot of it requires critical thinking and quick problem solving, but also be prepared to join a new family that is prepared to help and wants everyone to succeed.”
