May 2, 2024

Students Code Robots at High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren

The third annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren took place March 1 and 2 at UMW's Dahlgren Campus.

The third annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren took place March 1 and 2 at UMW’s Dahlgren Campus.

High school students from public and private schools from Stafford to the Northern Neck area will fill the halls of the University of Mary Washington’s (UMW) Dahlgren Campus with robots this week.

More than 100 students will compete in the third annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, for a cash prize, trophy, robotics kits for their school and bragging rights.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is getting to watch the lightbulb moments on the students’ faces, where they get a sudden idea for how to solve one of the challenges or when the program that they’ve been tweaking for an hour or so finally works on the practice mat. I love watching their faces and eyes light up when they go ‘Guys, I’ve got it!’” said Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) K-12 STEM Coordinator Tyler Truslow.

University of Mary Washington, the Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council, The MITRE Corporation and King George Economic Development Authority join NSWCDD in hosting the challenge. Read more.

See photos from the competition published by Fredericksburg Free Press.

Look for more coverage of the event coming soon on the UMW News site.