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Hurricane High robotics team asks council to help build regional STEM coalition; council agrees to consider budget request
Summary
Hurricane High School’s Black Ops (Team 9037) told council it represents all of Southern Utah in FIRST competitions, has reached 17,000 students through outreach and asked the city for help building a multi‑city STEM coalition and recurring support; council agreed to accept a $772 invoice now and asked staff to work with the team on a formal budget request.
Hurricane High School’s Black Ops robotics team (Team 9037) presented to the City Council, urging local leaders to help build a regional coalition connecting community, education and industry to expand STEM opportunities in Southern Utah.
The student presenters described outreach programs that reached more than 17,000 students across Southern Utah and showed examples of competition awards and community events. Team captain Jaden Mattson and teammates said the effort is about long‑term workforce development: bringing tech industries to the region and creating pathways so local students can find higher‑paying, STEM‑related jobs without leaving the area.
Why it mattered: Students asked for a council representative to join a multi‑city coalition and for financial support tied to a sustainable plan rather than a one‑time donation. Team members said their 2025–26 budget estimate was roughly $60,000 but emphasized that any recurring commitment and city facilitation—help connecting to local economic development and school district partners—would be valuable.
Council response and next steps: Councilmembers praised the presentation and suggested the team meet with city staff, the Washington County Economic Development Group and the school board to identify joint opportunities. Finance staff said $772 is available in the current budget and asked the team to submit an invoice; the mayor and staff encouraged the team to prepare a formal budget request to be considered in the next fiscal cycle beginning July 1.
Quotes: Student presenters said the team ‘‘builds people’’ as much as robots and that investments ‘‘create opportunities for young people that will pay dividends for this community for generations to come.’’
What to watch: The team and city staff will meet to scope a formal request for next year’s budget cycle; the council encouraged outreach to Washington County Economic Development and the school district.
