KINGSFORD TEAM 8382, The Pebbles-Robotics, took first place March 4 at a robotics district qualifier in Escanaba. The team features several Kingsford Middle School students along with Kingsford High School mentors. From left, standing are Olivia Sage, Tristan Stanchina, coach Edwin Yazbec, Jacob Marotz, Kayla Dault and coach Kaiden Tachick. At left, front, is coach Emma Marotz. The Kingsford team will join 39 others from across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan today and Saturday at the FIRST Robotics district competition in Sault Ste. Marie.

SAULT STE. MARIE — Forty high school teams will gather at Lake Superior State University to participate in a FIRST Robotics competition today and Saturday, vying in a sporting event for the mind.

Teams from Kingsford, Iron River and Powers are among those participating in the district event for students in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan.

In FIRST Robotics, high school students design, build, and program robots for a series of challenging contests that test their robots’ abilities. Students work together in teams, applying their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math to create innovative solutions to real-world problems.

The competition is intended to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields and develop important life skills, such as teamwork, leadership and problem-solving. The event, which starts both days with pits opening at 8 a.m. Eastern time in the James Norris Center, is free and open to the public.

Among the participants are The Pebbles-Robotics of Kingsford, TheROK of Kingsford, The AutoMatons of Iron River, JET SET of Powers, Stephenson Eagles of Stephenson and BetaWolves of Carney.

“We are thrilled to host this exciting event at Lake Superior State University,” LSSU President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley said. “As a leader in STEM education and with a 30-year history of robotics, computer science, and automation, we are committed to providing opportunities for young people to explore and develop their skills.”

The full schedule can be found online at https://firstinmichigan.us/FRC/milsu/.