Inspiring The Next Generation Of Scientists And Engineers


The Twisted Bots team of local homeschooled teenagers won the Inspire Award and a bid to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Atlanta with their performance in the Virginia FIRST Tech Challenge last weekend at the University of Virginia.  The Inspire Award winner joins the state point winner at the World event and is determined by peers and event judges together.  By peers’ assessment, the award honors the team that performs well in all categories of the competition and is viewed as the most desirable alliance partner.  Judges look for the team that best exemplifies all components of the FIRST Tech Challenge philosophy.  The Twisted Bots also did well in the points chase but fell short in final rounds.  The team includes, from left, Coach Jon Thompson, Dylan Burton, Caleb Taylor, Carson Towne, Brandon Williams, mentor Nathanael Miller, Julia Thompson, and Sawyer Towne.  A younger team of homeschooled Lego League robotics challengers coached by Thompson will compete at its state event this weekend after winning a regional event.