Charleston Tech Students Serve Up Chili, But Robots May Take Over

High school robotics team hosts fundraiser to prepare for regional competition

Feb. 23, 2026 at 2:03am

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The Charleston High School robotics team recently collaborated with the school's FBLA club to host a chili supper fundraiser, which will help cover the cost of building this year's competition robot. The team is one of only two in Southeast Missouri competing in the Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, a worldwide program featuring more than 1,000 teams. The robotics program serves students in grades nine through 12 and emphasizes STEM education and career readiness, with 95% of participants continuing on to college, 70-75% majoring in a STEM-related field.

Why it matters

The Charleston High School robotics team's chili supper fundraiser highlights the growing importance of STEM education and the opportunities it can provide for students, particularly in rural areas. The team's participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition also showcases the community's support for developing the next generation of engineers and technologists.

The details

The team is preparing for the Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, which will take place on March 18 in Searcy, Arkansas. This year's challenge requires teams to pick up a ball similar to a hard dodgeball and shoot it into a six-foot-high goal, while also completing climbing tasks to earn additional points. The 'build season' begins in early January, leaving teams just six to eight weeks to design, construct, test, and refine their machines before competition.

  • The chili supper fundraiser was recently held by the Charleston High School robotics team and FBLA club.
  • The Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition will take place on March 18, 2026 in Searcy, Arkansas.
  • The 'build season' for the competition begins in early January, leaving teams just six to eight weeks to prepare their robots.

The players

Charleston High School Robotics Team

A high school robotics team that is one of only two in Southeast Missouri competing in the Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

FBLA Club

The Charleston High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club, which collaborated with the robotics team to host the chili supper fundraiser.

Josh Thompson

The advisor for the Charleston High School robotics team.

Jonah Logan

A 10th grader at Charleston High School who has found a passion for engineering and teamwork through the robotics program.

Chaffee High School

Another high school team from Southeast Missouri that will also compete in the Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

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What they’re saying

“Every year the competition changes, so we have to design and build a brand-new robot. This year, we're building a robot with a 120-inch perimeter. There are a lot of motors and materials we have to buy, and electronics wear out over time. The chili supper helps us replace those parts.”

— Josh Thompson, Robotics Team Advisor

“It's high intensity. You're trying to score as many points as you can in a short amount of time, working together with two other teams.”

— Josh Thompson, Robotics Team Advisor

“It really introduced me to all this stuff. I really like it. It's a lot of fun.”

— Jonah Logan, 10th Grader

What’s next

On March 18, the Charleston High School robotics team and the team from Chaffee High School will travel to Searcy, Arkansas to compete in the Arkansas Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

The takeaway

The Charleston High School robotics team's chili supper fundraiser demonstrates the growing importance of STEM education and the opportunities it can provide for students, even in rural areas. By participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition, the team is not only developing valuable technical skills, but also fostering a sense of community and teamwork that will serve them well in their future careers.