Collage of a youth robotics team at a competition, with group photos, students driving a robot, and a robot collecting yellow balls on the field.Across Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), the robotics program is creating opportunities for students and staff to excel. Several schools earned top-level awards at 2025-26 robotics events. These awards span a range of competitions, each designed to test different technical skills and abilities. The following is a closer look at the platforms where PWCS students and staff earned top honors: 

Aerial Drone Competition 

The Aerial Drone Competition offers a hands-on opportunity for students to develop essential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, including drone operation, programming, and critical problem-solving. Designed to reflect real-world scenarios, the competition challenges students to collaborate, think strategically, and innovate as they complete mission-based tasks. 

Congratulations to the following teams: 

  • Aerial Wolves Team Alpha and Team Charlie, Lake Ridge Middle School 
  • Aerial Wolves Team Alpha and Team Charlie, Lake Ridge Middle School, earned the Teamwork Award (first place) 
  • Aerial Wolves Team Charlie, Lake Ridge Middle School, earned the Communication Award (first place) 
  • Aerial Wolves Team Alpha, Lake Ridge Middle School, earned the All-Around Champion Award (first place) 

FIRST LEGO League 

FIRST LEGO League engages students ages 5–16 in STEM through hands-on learning experiences using LEGO technology. 

Congratulations to the following team: 

  • Team Golden Gears, Glenkirk Elementary School, earned the Judges Award (first place)  

FIRST Robotics Competition 

In this competition, teams of high school students begin with a standard kit of parts to design, program, and build industrial-sized robots. 

Congratulations to the following teams and student: 

  • SuperNOVA, PWCS All-County team, earned the Creativity Award 
  • Metal Jackets, Osbourn Park High School, earned the Team Sustainability Award 
  • Isabel Rojas, Metal Jackets, Osbourn Park High School, earned the Leadership Award 

FIRST Tech Challenge 

Students collaborate with mentors to design and build innovative robots for a competition. 

Congratulations to the following teams and teacher: 

  • ASPIRE, Battlefield High School, earned the Control Award  
  • ASPIRE, Battlefield High School, earned the Sustain Award 
  • Brian Shepard, mathematics teacher at Battlefield High School, earned the Compass Award 

International SeaPerch Challenge 

The International SeaPerch Challenge is a hands-on underwater robotics initiative that engages students in engineering, coding, and problem-solving by having them design and build remotely operated vehicles. 

Congratulations to the following teams: 

  • Sea Lions, Unity Reed High School 
  • Stinging Stingrays, Unity Reed High School 
  • Final Dive, Unity Reed High School 

VEX Robotics Competition 

The VEX Robotics Competition is the world’s largest and fastest-growing robotics program for middle and high school students. Each year features a new game-based engineering challenge in which students work alongside teachers and mentors to design and build innovative robots. 

Congratulations to the following teams: 

  • The Golden Griffyndogs, Graham Park Middle School, earned the Sportsmanship Award 

 These accomplishments reflect the hard work, innovation, and collaboration of students and staff across the school division and highlight the strength of PWCS robotics programs.