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Tecumseh students showcase award-winning FIRST Robotics robot; district covers major costs
Summary
Students from Arrowhead Robotics Team 3773 presented their robot to the Tecumseh Public Schools Board, described a yearlong design process and hardware costs (swerve-drive modules ~$4,000; two district event registrations ~$6,300) and invited trustees to a hallway demonstration after reporting recent competition wins.
Devon Murphy, lead programmer for Arrowhead Robotics Team 3773, introduced the team at the Tecumseh Public Schools Board meeting on May 18, 2026, and described the student-built robot they will use in the 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition.
"We are Arrowhead Robotics… I'm Devon Murphy, the lead programmer for the team," Murphy said, explaining the team’s design and testing cycle. Student members outlined their approach: design with CAD, build prototypes, test and refine, and then compete over a three-month build season.
The students described hardware and participation costs to the board. Murphy said the swerve-drive chassis modules and motors “costs $4,000 just to get the modules and motors for it,” and the team noted registration for two district events runs about $6,300. The team thanked the district by name for enabling travel and competition opportunities.
The group also highlighted competitive success and team development. A mentor said the team secured a district win at Jackson/Columbia and that the robot was a "very supportive" and competitive entrant during elimination play. Students and mentors brought a robot to the hallway for a brief demonstration after their presentation.
Nut graf: Trustees heard a concise explanation of how the robotics program supports STEM learning and student leadership — from hands-on engineering to public speaking — as students described the technical tradeoffs and recurring costs that make sustained district or community support valuable.
In discussion trustees expressed appreciation and interest in seeing the robot in action. The presentation illustrated the program’s links to classroom curricula (Project Lead The Way was mentioned elsewhere in the meeting) and highlighted recurring budget pressures tied to specialized components and event fees.
The students left trustees with concrete cost figures and an invitation to visit the hallway demonstration, and the board thanked the team for representing the district at competitions.
The board did not take action related to the robotics program at the meeting; trustees moved on to other agenda items after the hallway demo.
