The FIRST Robotics Program was introduced to Newton High School in 2001. Soon after, a team was constructed from about 13 students who had submitted applications. These students along with a few mentors designed and built a robot that was used to compete in the FIRST regional in St. Louis, Missouri. Since then, the robotics program has grown in both experience and members, continuing to prepare students for the technological industry.
Every summer we host our annual Summer LEGO Camp for ages 8-12 years old. They spend a week designing, building and programming a LEGO robot. On the last day we invite friends and family where the students participate in an exciting competition between all of the teams.
Our team has designed robotics for games similar to NASCAR, basketball, soccer, and more. We have competed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, and Texas Regional’s, as well as Atlanta Nationals! Team 935 has won eight regional competitions from when we started. In 2005 and 2006 we won in Denver. Then in 2007 we won the Kansas City regional. In 2010 and 2011 we won the Oklahoma City regional. We won Dallas West regional in 2012. Then in 2017 we won Hub City Regional. Our most recent win was in 2019 at Heartland Regional. Then in 2003 we went to Nationals in Houston Texas, in 2006 and 2007 we participated in the Atlanta Nationals and in 2011 we competed in the St. Louis Nationals.
Besides the goal of winning awards and recognition in our competition skills, design, website, business plan, the team strives to place learning first and foremost. Each year, Team 935’s mentors and sponsors support us because they enjoy watching us succeed and learn, the nuts and bolts (literally) of how a robot goes together. Most of our mentors are past members of the RaileRobotics team, and return for the late nights because they appreciated the experience they’ve been given by RaileRobotics – not to mention they are addicted to the thrill of build season.