Umatilla Robotics Teams Shine
When the gears started turning and sensors began scanning at the Oregon State Robotics Championship, a crew of middle school inventors from Umatilla made sure their enginesand spiritswere firing on all cylinders. In a spectacle of nuts, bolts, and youth-fueled brilliance, teams from Clara Brownell Middle School took their shot at tech glory and delivered performances that were anything but mechanical.
The Grit Behind the Gizmos
Out of nearly 60 teams from across the state, Umatilla’s four robotics squads didn’t just show upthey stood out. Their journey to the state championship in Salem was paved with months of trial, troubleshooting, and teamwork. Guided by their advisor Ashley Duyn, the students balanced creativity and code with the same dexterity they used for recess dodgeball and math homework.
“These are some of the sharpest minds I’ve worked with,” said Duyn. “They’ve learned how to solve real-world problems using engineering, communication, and a lot of persistence. Our students truly represent what’s possible when you give kids the chance to shine with STEM.”
Building Bots, Breaking Barriers
At the competition in Salem, student-designed robots were not just navigating obstacle coursesthey were powering through the laws of physics, robotics algorithms, and time constraints that would stump most adults. With events ranging from autonomous tasks to remote-controlled missions, every twist of a wheel meant another opportunity to leap ahead in the rankings.
One team, Umatilla Orange Sauce, finished impressively in the top 25earning bragging rights and letting every microchip and motor know that Umatilla kids are no pushovers. They’ve now officially cemented themselves in Oregon’s growing tech-education landscape, and perhaps more importantly, in the selfie feeds of impressed onlookers.
A Statewide Show of Steamand STEM
The championship was hosted by Oregon State University’s STEM Outreach and served as a reminder of how accessible robotics can reshape rural education. It wasn’t just about winning trophiesit was about showcasing curiosity, community, and code. The competition brought together students from both sides of the Cascades who are interested in building a brighter, more programmable tomorrow.
“We’re proud of every single student who participated,” said one of the event organizers. “Robotics teaches patience, resilience, and collaboration. These are life skills, not just tech skills.”
Charging Into the Future
Back in Umatilla, the buzz hasn’t worn off. Since returning from the state competition, the student engineers have become hallway celebrities, their notebook schematics ogled with newfound awe. There’s already murmuring about next year’s ideasself-parking robots, AI-assisted strategy bots, and maybe even a competition-ready taco delivery bot (hey, we can dream).
And for the students who participated, the true takeaway isn’t just that they’ve become better roboticistsit’s that they’ve become passionate learners. With a talented mentor, a supportive school, and a town behind them, the skyor at least the stratosphere of high school roboticsis the limit.
Robots, Community, and Imagination Circuitry
So as the LED eyes fade, the gears slow down, and the coding bugs get debugged, one thing is crystal clear: the Umatilla robotics teams took the competition by storm. And if this year was any indication, they’ll be back stronger, smarter, and possibly equipped with laser guidance systems. Watch out, OregonUmatilla’s robots are just getting warmed up.
#STEMstars #UmatillaStrong #WatchOutWorld
