FIRST Robotics District Championship returns to Wayne State for a celebration of STEM and teamwork
For the third consecutive year, Wayne State University will welcome approximately 1,200 high school students from Detroit and other nearby communities for the FIRST Robotics Detroit District Championship. The 40-team competition, which is free and open to the public, will take place March 14 and 15 at the Matthaei Physical Education Center on Wayne State’s Midtown campus.
“FIRST Robotics provides an incredible platform for students to develop STEM skills, creativity and teamwork,” said Jasmine Roberson, director of community engagement for the College of Engineering. “We are excited to host these inspiring young innovators and hope to spark their passion for engineering and technology, shaping the future of Detroit and beyond.”
Each team, aided by faculty and industry mentors, has six weeks to design and deliver their individual robot to meet specific tournament requirements. In REEFSCAPE, the game for this year’s competition, teams will navigate the complexities of ocean ecosystems, using STEM and teamwork to explore, innovate and contribute to a thriving underwater world. Through collaboration and creativity, participants will uncover new ways to strengthen their communities and drive real-world solutions.
The event at Wayne State opens the third of five weeks of district competitions leading into the Michigan State Championships at Saginaw Valley State University beginning April 3. The FIRST Robotics Championship will be held April 16-19 in Houston.
Wayne State will also host an interactive demonstration event on March 13 from 3 to 6 p.m. to welcome FIRST Robotics teams and showcase cutting-edge student projects from the College of Engineering, including a robotic dog demonstration, a Formula SAE racing car and an e-scooter simulation platform. Attendees can also explore the capabilities of a collaborative robotic arm and connect with student competition teams, offering a glimpse into the innovation and hands-on learning that define engineering at Wayne State.
“We are thrilled to once again welcome these talented and driven high school students to Wayne State University,” said Ali Abolmaali, dean of the College of Engineering. “FIRST Robotics fosters the problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills that define the next generation of engineers, and we are proud to support their journey.”
“We are thrilled to be back at Wayne State University,” added Gail Alpert, president of FIRST in Michigan. “It is so important for our students to explore and feel at home at this great institution that is right in their backyard.”
More than half of the competing teams are from within the city of Detroit. Many of the participants will have the opportunity to continue their education at Wayne State, should they so choose, through the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge, which offers free tuition to students of Detroit high schools or Detroit residents earning a high school diploma. The College of Engineering is also offering seven $3,000 scholarships that may be renewed over four years.
"The scholarships we are offering to FIRST Robotics assist incoming high school students in the pursuit of their passion for engineering,” said Leslie Monplaisir, associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Engineering. “These scholarships serve as catalysts for innovation, empowering students to reach their full potential and shape a future where creativity knows no bounds.”
Attendance and parking at the event are free. Opening ceremonies start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 14 and at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 15; the venue will open at 8 a.m. each day. The Matthaei Center is located at the intersection of Warren Avenue and the southbound Lodge Freeway Service Drive on the southwest corner of campus.
Photo courtesy of FIRST in Michigan (taken by Daniel Ernst)