In a FIRST, college hosts regional tournament for young robotics challengers

Most of the time, Huibregste Commons—a spacious, airy gathering place inside UW-Madison’s Engineering Hall—is bustling with engineering faculty, staff, students and visitors who use the space to study, relax, collaborate or just enjoy a cup of coffee.

On Dec. 6 and 7, 2025, however, a throng of approximately 240 much younger innovators filled the space, alternately chatting excitedly and focusing intently on the task at hand: Working in teams, the fourth- through eighth-graders built and programmed an autonomous LEGO robot using the LEGO robotics and programming tools EV3 or SPIKE Prime. Robots then had 150 seconds to complete various missions on a themed game field, and the teams earned points based on the accuracy and complexity of the missions.

These aspiring Badger Engineers were participants in a Wisconsin FIRST LEGO League (FLL) regional tournament hosted by the First Robotic Competition Team 1306 and the First Technical Challenge Team 27088 Technical Difficulties—two Madison-area high school robotics teams led by the Madison nonprofit BadgerBots.

FLL uses hands-on STEM challenges to engage kids in STEM through designing, building and coding LEGO robots and solving real-world challenges as a team—and in the process, building their skills in critical thinking, coding and design. FLL is part of FIRST Robotics—a global nonprofit founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers through hands-on robotics competitions. In Wisconsin, some-5,000 students ranging from grades 2 through 12 participate in FIRST programs annually.

BadgerBots coordinates Wisconsin’s FLL program, including its “challenge” (for kids in grades 4 to 8) and “explore” (for kids in grades 2 to 4) tournaments and expos. It also provides support for teams around the state, including training for coaches and mentors.

At the Madison regional tournament, in addition to the robot design, judges also evaluated teams on an innovation project and on core values, which include teamwork, inclusion and gracious professionalism, as well as collaboration and respect. For the innovation project, teams spent up to three months researching a real problem related to the season’s theme (in 2025, the theme is “Unearthed,” focusing on archaeology and uncovering human history). In 30-minute segments at the competition, they shared their innovative solutions during a five-minute presentation to judges, followed by five minutes about the engineering process and programming strategies of their robot design, and then 10 minutes of judge questions and another 10 minutes to discuss judge feedback.

The UW-Madison Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering helped to host the event, and Andrew Greenberg, a distinguished teaching faculty member in the department who’s also a member of the UW-Madison Materials Research Science and Engineering Center education group, provided outreach activities for competition participants. Victor Zavala, a professor of chemical and biological engineering, helped with outreach, as did 14 chemical and biological engineering undergraduate and graduate students.

Overall, more than 70 volunteers helped with different aspects of the event, and countless parents and guardians supported the participants. Also among the College of Engineering connections were George Huber, a professor of chemical and biological engineering who helps coach Team 27088 Technical Difficulties, of which his high-school-age son is a member. And Kumuda Ranjan, wife of Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering Devesh Ranjan, coaches an FLL team that advanced to the sectional tournament.

Beyond the element of competition, Ranjan himself says programs like FIRST are vital for sparking curiosity and confidence in STEM for kids of all ages. “These hands-on experiences not only teach problem-solving and teamwork—which are critical skills for engineers—but they also help young students see themselves as future engineers and innovators,” he says. “By engaging them now, we’re building a strong pipeline of talent that will shape the technologies and solutions our world needs.”

He says hosting the FLL competition reflects the university’s commitment to Wisconsin. “We want young students to see that engineering is creative, impactful and accessible—and that they can belong here,” he says. “These programs align with our mission to educate and inspire leaders who will tackle society’s greatest challenges.”

Featured image caption: Students participate in a Wisconsin FIRST LEGO League (FLL) regional tournament hosted by the First Robotic Competition Team 1306 and the First Technical Challenge Team 27088 Technical Difficulties—two Madison-area high school robotics teams led by the Madison nonprofit BadgerBots. Photo: George Huber.