Inter-Lakes LakerBots qualify for world STEAM competition

Competing among the top talent in New England, Inter‑Lakes Middle High School’s (ILMHS) LakerBots 8046 powered into the Big E in West Springfield, MA, earning a 14th place in their division among one hundred FIRST Robotics teams.

As a result of their amazing performance this season, the Lakerbots have qualified for the FRC World Championships in Houston, Texas, April 29-May 2, where they will compete alongside six hundred teams from around the world.

The LakerBots qualified and attended the World Championships as recently as 2023. Qualifying for the FIRST Robotics World Championship is more than just an achievement—it’s a life-changing opportunity where students from around the globe will gather to celebrate innovation, teamwork, and the power of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math), meet and learn from top teams worldwide, connect with industry professionals, and experience cutting-edge technology in action. It’s an environment that inspires confidence, sparks curiosity, and helps students envision futures in engineering, technology, and leadership.

For the LakerBots, this journey represents countless hours of dedication, creativity, and perseverance.They have spent months designing, building, programming, and refining their robot—learning not just technical skills, but also how to collaborate, problem-solve, and overcome challenges together.

For many of the team members, this trip will be their first opportunity to travel at this level and participate in a global event of this magnitude. The experience will leave a lasting impact—broadening perspectives, building lifelong friendships, and reinforcing the belief that their hard work can take them anywhere. The team has nine days to pack up and transport the robot, team, and pit to Texas.

The LakerBots are seeking help from the community to offset the costs for students. This trip is estimated to cost $34,000. If you are interested in helping the team, go to their GoFundMe at: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/lakerbots-8046-robotics-worlds2026, or mail checks to LakerBots 8046 Robotics, 85 Pinnacle Park Road, Meredith, NH 03253, or contact Lead Coach, Robotics Coordinator and STEAM Teacher joe.derrick@interlakes.org for more information.