The gymnasium at South Burlington High School was the scene for a thrilling state competition on Saturday, February 8. Only instead of squeaking sneakers, the space was filled with the unique sounds and drama of a robotics competition as 22 teams from across the state participated in the 2025 Vermont FIRST Tech Challenge.

Robots are guided through a series of tasks at the Vermont FTC State Championship

Founded in 1989, FIRST is a global not-for-profit organization with a mission to inspire young engineers through a mentorship program that cultivates their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills in a team-based format that fosters self-confidence, communication, and leadership skills. The organization offers three different program levels to provide an opportunity for youths to work in teams to learn how to design, build, and program robots: LEGO® League (FLL for ages 4-14) and the Tech Challenge and Robotics Competition (FTC and FRC, both for ages 14-18).

The FTC program in Vermont started over a decade ago and has grown to become a premier student-driven technology showcase for the state. For the past three years, the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), in partnership with UVM Extension and Vermont 4-H, has overseen the program and provides additional support through funding and an active volunteer corps of faculty and staff members.

Students celebrate at the end of a match during the 2025 FTC State Championship

In FTC, teams of up to 15 students are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots that then compete in a head-to-head challenge that is organized in an alliance format (two teams compete against two other teams). They are guided by team mentors and their own passion for science, computers, and engineering. Together, they develop the necessary technical skills and embrace a spirit of innovation and teamwork to build sophisticated robots that perform autonomous and operator-navigated tasks through a complex obstacle course of challenges. Strategy is also a key component of the competition as top-placed teams can select their own alliances for the final rounds.

This year’s challenge theme was “INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX” where teams were inspired by robots diving into the depths of the ocean to explore the unknown and reveal its wonders.

Results and award winners for the 2025 Vermont State FTC Championship

2025 Vermont FIRST Tech Challenge Slideshow

2025 Vermont First Tech Challenge (FTC) State Championship participating teams are:

Team NumberTeam NameTeam Location
Team #3397HiveMind Robotics    Essex Junction, VT
Team #4946Robo RaidersEast Montpelier, VT
Team #5741CVU RoboHawksHinesburg, VT
Team #6731RingersSaint Albans, VT
Team #7418Batteries Not IncludedSouth Burlington, VT
Team #8304Wired CatsSaxtons River, VT
Team #9622RMS RoboticsRutland, VT
Team #9721Green Mountain GearsSouth Burlington, VT
Team #10899Mansfield Mechanics UnitedJericho, VT
Team #14251Capital RoboticsMontpelier, VT
Team #15081Milton RoboticsMilton, VT
Team #16221Manchester Machine MakersManchester, VT
Team #18351Bubbert InnovationsEast Montpelier, VT
Team #18616River Valley RAD's Springfield, VT
Team #18649Lancer RoboticsHyde Park, VT
Team #18650Cookie ClickersBennington, VT
Team #21577Bulldog RoboticsBurlington, VT
Team #22683JV RedHawksHinesburg, VT
Team #23742Insufficient PowerSouth Burlington, VT
Team #24107Trash PandasWestford, VT
Team #24782Robo Raiders IIMontpelier, VT