UHS Robotics Team Triumphs
Move over, Tony StarkUnion High School’s robotics team is on the rise, and they’re bringing brains, bolts, and a whole lot of school spirit along for the ride. The Union High School Robotics Team in La Grande, Oregon, is proving that rural ingenuity and high-tech talent are a winning combination.
A Season of Teamwork and Tenacity
The team is made up of nine students fiercely passionate about engineering, problem-solving, and, of course, a good-friendly competition. Coached by Jesse Endicott, the students have spent this year diving headfirst into robotics engineeringcoding, assembling, and tinkering deep into the night.
This month their efforts paid off big time: the proud crew of “Union Station”that’s their robot’s name (yes, it has a name and no, it doesn’t talk back… yet)competed in the Industry Robotics Championships and not only made their mark, but turned heads while doing it.
Vibranium? No. Spirit? Absolutely.
While Union Station didn’t nab the first-place trophy in tech specs, the team walked away with the prestigious Judges’ Spirit Awarda recognition of their unstoppable enthusiasm, team camaraderie, and electric energy that lit up the entire competition floor. If there had been a medal for ‘Most Infectious Excitement’they’d be wearing gold.
“We really care about each other, and you can see that in our work,” said one bright-eyed team member wearing safety goggles with pride. According to Endicott, the Spirit Award was a validation of the intangiblethe teamwork, cooperation, and passionate energy the Union team brought into each round of the tournament.
More Than Nuts and Bolts
Robotics teams are often evaluated by the sophistication of their machinesCPUs, programming languages, mechanical precisionand Union Station certainly held its own in those categories. But what put Union over the top was the way they represented what robotics competitions are supposed to be: inclusive, inspiring, and collaborative.
“Engineering is about solving problems together,” said Endicott. “We’re showing our kids that with the right attitude and effort, even a small-town school can go head-to-head with the best in the state.”
A Blueprint for the Future
This victory isn’t the endit’s a launching point. The team is already buzzing with ideas for their next robot, and fundraising has begun to ensure sustainable support for the program. Local businesses and school alumni are being rallied to join in building a foundation of support that matches the students’ ambition.
Beyond the thrill of competition, the robotics program at UHS is sowing seeds for long-term skill development. These young innovators are gaining exposure to STEM careers and opening doors they might not otherwise have known existed. There’s serious future potential herefrom aerospace engineers to software developersand brightly lit labs instead of metaphorical garages await these sharp minds.
Wrapping Up With a Spark
So, while other towns may have their star athletes or championship bands, La Grande can take pride in something just as buzz-worthy: a spirited robotics team with ingenuity, fire, and future-forward thinking at their core. The UHS Robotics Team didn’t just build a robotthey built something even stronger: a community of dreamers who aren’t afraid to go full throttle toward genius.
As Union Station rolls back into town, it’s safe to say this train is just getting started.
