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Robotics

Two girls working on a robot.

FIRST Robotics at Notre Dame

Each year brings a new challenge for FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. With limited time and resources, they create their team identity, raise needed funds, and work with mentors to analyze and develop a strategy to compete via provided rules and guidelines. Team members design and build a competitive industrial-sized robot using sophisticated hardware and software technology to meet the challenge. Students experience real-world engineering and entrepreneurship. Each team competes for judged and competition awards at action-packed multi-day events with other teams. FIRST Robotics Competition is a sport where all participants can choose to become a professional.

What is FIRST Robotics?

First Robotics Competition.

During the 2024-2025 FIRST season, FIRST® DIVE℠ presented by Qualcomm, teams will use their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean. Along the way, we’ll uncover the potential in each of us to strengthen our community and innovate for a better world with healthy oceans. Join us as we explore the future.

Explore FIRST DIVE

What FIRST Robotics Offers

  • It is a sport where participants play with and learn from the pros
  • Designing and building a robot is a fascinating real-world professional experience
  • Competing brings participants as  much excitement and adrenaline rush  as conventional varsity tournaments
  • The game rules are a surprise every year
  • Access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life

Sponsor Us 

Are you interested in sponsoring the Notre Dame High School Robotics team for the current academic year? Do you want to help the Notre Dame High School robotics team build our robots, go to competitions, and buy the tools necessary for our success? You’re in the right place! We’re constantly on the lookout for new sponsors, and whether it be a single donation or a longer relationship with our team, we’re immensely grateful! What we do wouldn’t be possible without the support of the members of our community. Please contact Mr. Kulka (kulka@ndnj.org) or Ms. Sudziarski (sudziarski@ndnj.org) for more information.

Mentorship

Mentoring is an important part of the FIRST program and largely contributes to the program’s success. A FIRST Mentor is any person who works with the team in their area of expertise (for as little as one team meeting or as many as all of them), helps provide valuable support and serves as a resource in their own area of specialty and ignite curiosity, empower, and guide the collective skills needed to make a positive impact on each other, and the world. A mentor’s role may include inspiring students in science and technology, balancing effective work habits with FUN, and encouraging students to take risks and be inventive. Please contact Mr. Kulka (kulka@ndnj.org) or Ms. Sudziarski (sudziarski@ndnj.org) for more information.