Robotics Tournament: Unearthed: Discovering the Treasure Within
The Southwest Region Conference hosted a thrilling regional robotics tournament at the Lone Star Campground from March 6-8, 2026. Under the theme "Unearthed: Discovering the Treasure Within," students from Adventist schools across the region showcased their ingenuity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in an exciting weekend of competition.
The tournament opened with an inspiring message from guest speaker Mrs. Pat Goffe, who encouraged the young participants to discover and develop the God-given talents within them. Her words set a spiritual foundation for the weekend and reminded students that their abilities are gifts to be used for God's glory.
A unique highlight of the event was a prayer walk featuring four stations, where students paused to reflect, pray, and seek God's guidance as they prepared for competition. This blend of faith and academics exemplified the holistic approach of Adventist education.
The competition was fierce, with teams demonstrating impressive technical skills and creative solutions. The awards ceremony recognized outstanding achievements across multiple categories:
Core Values Award + Robot Performance: North Dallas Adventist Academy Sentinels, who exemplified teamwork and sportsmanship while delivering exceptional robot performance on the competition field.
Innovation Project Award: Scenic Hills Adventist Academy Motorized Hawks, whose creative project addressed real-world challenges with innovative thinking and thorough research.
Robot Design Award: Southwest Christian Academy Code Crushers, recognized for their exceptional engineering and thoughtful mechanical design.
Champion's Award: Ozark Adventist Academy Indiana Bones, who demonstrated excellence across all aspects of the competition, earning the tournament's highest honor.
Three teams earned the distinction of advancing to the Adventist Robotics Championship Tournament, scheduled for May 3, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. These teams will represent the Southwest Region Conference on the national stage.
In a generous gesture that underscored the spirit of the event, a 3D printer was donated to Southwest Christian Academy, providing students with new tools to continue developing their STEM skills beyond the tournament.
