Algae, coral, nets, cages and barges – or props representing them – covered the floor of the David Braley Athletic Centre on McMaster’s campus for the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition circuit themed REEFSCAPE. Designed to highlight the engineering skills that can help preserve one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats, the competition brought together high school robotics teams from across Ontario to showcase their robots to enthusiastic crowds of supporters.

More than 2,000 competitors, their families and friends, volunteers and members of the public took in the action on March 29 and 30. Co-hosted by McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering and FIRST Robotics Canada, the event marked the sixth year the university has hosted a district competition, which has now become the largest in the province.

Supporting that pathway for prospective students is a healthy FIRST Robotics Entrance Scholarship program. Ten students receive $15,000 each in support of their academic costs, which is the largest scholarship of its kind in Canada.

Many of our current engineering students discovered their path to postsecondary education through their involvement in FIRST Robotics.

The FIRST Robotics community is tight-knit, which is a testament to the strong bonds formed during the robotics-building process and competitions that follow. Many McMaster-affiliated FIRST alumni return to the competition as event volunteers, judges and mentors. Emily Forester, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering and Society student, who served as a play-by-play announcer, noted the high-scoring games and high level of skill demonstrated by teams throughout the weekend. “I’m routinely impressed by FIRST Robotics students,” she says. “Their teamwork is strong, which is something that I definitely took away from my FIRST Robotics experience in high school and brought that with me to group projects at McMaster.”

• hosting alumni and their families for STEM activities at a Fireball Family event
• witnessing one of the top teams in the world – team 2056 from Orchard Park in Stoney Creek – take the competition floor and come out on top
• supporting two Indigenous teams from Manitoulin Island with a McMaster Engineering travel bursary so they could make the seven hour journey to compete
• Mechanical Engineering student and FIRST volunteer referee Angela Tollis receiving the FIRST Volunteer Award
• showcasing McMaster Engineering clubs and teams including McMaster Mars Rover, McMaster Rocketry Team, Project Team MERCURY and MAC RoboMaster,
• welcoming the Hammerheads Robotics team from Ron Joyce Hospital to take in the action.

Eligible teams will proceed to provincials later this week in Mississauga and potentially the world championships next month in Houston, Texas.