BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s FIRST Team 303 T.E.S.T. Team is headed to Houston after winning the Engineering Inspiration Award at the 2026 FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships.
The competition was held at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania from April 16 through April 18.
The award guaranteed Bridgewater-Raritan High School an invitation to compete in the FIRST Championships in Houston, Texas, from April 29 to May 2.
According to Jim Griffin, the Robotics Team Advisor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, this is the first time Team 303 has won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the District Championships and the first time since 2019 that Team 303 has earned an invite to the FIRST Championships.
Griffin, the high school’s STEM teacher, described the meaning of the honor.
"The Engineering Inspiration Award is sponsored by SpaceX, and celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team's school or organization, and community," said Griffin.
He also shared what judges said when presenting the award to Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s staff and students from Team 303.
"The judges said that this team not only understands FIRST values, but also shares them with their community. This year, they have taken their efforts on tour internationally. Their willingness to T.E.S.T new ideas, such as 3D-3 toys and incorporating a robotics diploma, has already inspired the judges," said Griffin.
Griffin said the trip to Houston marks a milestone for a program that had once regularly reached the world stage.
"Before COVID and the damage caused to the team workshop by Hurricane Ida, our team would regularly go to the World Championships. That we got an invite this year was just a distant dream at the beginning of the year and it goes to show how hard the team worked this year to rise to the occasion and bring 303 Robotics back to its old form," said Griffin.
He added that the team’s progress reflects the work of students and the support around them.
"These kids take pride in bringing an appreciation of STEM to our world, and this award reflects that. Our parents and mentors have really stepped up in a big way this year, and we look forward to having the support of the Bridgewater-Raritan community as we continue to grow and represent our school," said Griffin.
Team 303’s next stop is Houston, where Bridgewater-Raritan High School will compete at the FIRST Championships from April 29 to May 2.
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