United Robotics of Lacombe attends Central Alberta FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics competition

For Lacombe Composite High School teacher Steve Schultz, seeing students tackle challenging robotics projects sparks a strong sense of purpose.

That was brought into sharper focus recently when the United Robotics of Lacombe attended the Central Alberta FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition on Feb. 9 at Red Deer Polytechnic.

The local teams fared very well, as ‘Team 4169 URL RoboRams’ won the tournament and now advances to the Western Canada FTC championships on March 15-16.

‘Team 23792 URL Spectre’ and ‘Team 27622 URL Mech Mavericks’ came in second (lost to 4169 by just 3 points). And ‘Team 26188 URL uncertified’ won the Inspire Award (second place)

“Our three teams have another chance to qualify at the chance qualifiers on March 1st in Sherwood Park,” said Schultz, adding that United Robotics of Lacombe is a robotics class and program that runs out of Lacombe Composite High School. 

“2010 was the first year we entered into the competition, and then in 2012, we had the privilege of going to the world championships in St. Louis – so that was pretty awesome, and brought us forward to 2024/25.

“I decided to offer our home school population the chance to participate. So we created a home school team, and then we also had two teams returning from the previous year.

“We also decided to make a fourth team out of new students. Remarkably, we have students all the way from Rocky Mountain House, also Lacombe and Clive – students from all around Central Alberta joining our program, which is really cool.”

There are now about 100 robotics teams across Alberta, he said.

“It’s a remarkable feat, and it means that now we have regional championships, and this one was our Central Alberta championship that we had on (Feb. 9).”

Here in Central Alberta, there are 12 teams – and that number continues to grow as more and more students catch the excitement – and the possibilities – of exploring all that robotics has to offer, he said.

“We went into the competition with some trepidation, as all of the teams had decided to take their robots completely apart, and re-design them!”

But the kids certainly held their own.

From there, as mentioned, three teams advance to the Alberta championships on March 15-16 at St. Joseph High School in Red Deer, along with all of the best teams from northern and southern Alberta – plus a team from both Saskatchewan and B.C.

“I’m proud that all of our efforts, long hours and mentoring help have paid off. There has been a lot of investment this year,” said Schultz. 

“I’m also extremely hopeful, and I’m encouraged that there is a program for those students that have been looking for and wanting (this type) of program, and that we are able to offer it,” he said.

“It’s my hope that we as a club – the United Robotics of Lacombe – can start mentoring and growing robotics even further across Central Alberta,” he said.

Next year, he hopes to do consulting with other schools, teachers, coaches and mentors, and forming more robotics clubs/programs/classes.

A big part of that awareness-building also comes from holding robotics clubs in the summer – a fantastic, hands-on opportunity for youth to learn more about the field, and perhaps be inspired to make it a career path one day.

Looking ahead, one of the camps runs in Lacombe from July 21 to 21.

“It’s a morning camp, and it’s for Grades 4 to 6. And then from Aug. 18-22, we are running a full day camp for junior high students. Both of the camps will be held at the Lacombe high school, and it’s not too early to register,” he said.

Folks can head to 10peaks.ca/camps for more details.

“They will fill up, so I would encourage students to sign up soon,” said Schultz.

“We have to show kids and parents what the possibilities are.”

Ultimately, so much of these opportunities are the results of Schultz’s commitment to the cause – spreading the joys of offering ground-breaking educational experiences to at Lacombe Composite High School, and beyond.

His desire to reach out stems from his missionary parents, who modelled the concepts of reaching out, offering service, and holding to a perspective of giving, he said. “If you want your programs to be sustainable, there has to be a network of support.”

It also touches on legacy. “I’m really motivated on having these programs continue without me being part of the picture,” he added.

“If you don’t mentor, or replicate yourself, things don’t last. Also, I believe this is more than a job, and it’s more than volunteering. It’s a calling – it’s what I was created to do. If you don’t follow that, you won’t be content. “

“I feel very hopeful and joyful knowing that our team is in a good place, and our community here is in a good place. We are doing everything we can to provide an environment where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) can flourish.

“Every single student who participates in our robotics program can become a champion. They can make this into a career as well.”