Hardy County students seek $35,000 in fundraising to send robotics teams to national and international competitions

A group representing the district’s robotics program told the board that the program has grown rapidly and now includes roughly 21 teams and nearly 100 regularly participating students across elementary, middle and high school levels.

"Our students in Hardy County are very capable; they just need the opportunity to develop those skills and show them off," the robotics representative told the board, describing recent results: middle‑school teams won state titles and advanced to national invitational events, and the high‑school team was likely to advance to the world competition once remaining matches were completed on March 2.

Students who spoke described gains in leadership, public speaking and technical skills. One student said the program helped him take on leadership roles he once avoided and credited robotics with scholarship and college opportunities for seniors. The board also heard that the program hosted a large competition at Morfield High School with roughly 55 teams from Maryland, Virginia and D.C., and that the county has been asked to host additional championships.

Program leaders asked the board to help publicize upcoming fundraisers and explore funding options; they estimated a total need of about $35,000 to support travel and participation for the roughly 20 students expected to attend national and international events.

Board members praised the students and suggested ways to help advertise fundraising efforts; no formal district funding decision was made during the meeting.