Oklahoma Students Advance to FIRST World Championship in Robotics

The Awesome Possums team from Oklahoma City raises funds to compete at the prestigious global event.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:33am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly structured abstract painting in bold geometric shapes and vibrant colors, representing the complex mechanical and programming systems that power the Awesome Possums' competition robot.The Awesome Possums robotics team's intricate robot design and programming showcases the creativity and technical skills of Oklahoma students competing on the global stage.Oklahoma City Today

A group of middle and high school students from the Awesome Possums robotics team in Oklahoma City have earned a spot to compete at the FIRST World Championship in Houston. The team has been working hard to design, build, and program their robot to compete in regional and state events, showcasing their technical skills and creativity. Now, they are fundraising to cover the expenses for their trip to the world championship competition.

Why it matters

The FIRST Tech Challenge provides an exciting platform for young people to develop their skills in robotics, engineering, and problem-solving. The Awesome Possums' achievement in advancing to the world championship highlights the importance of fostering STEM education and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

The details

The Awesome Possums team, comprising students in grades seven through nine, has designed a robot capable of completing various tasks on the competition field, including shooting five-inch foam balls into a goal. The robot features an intake system to collect the balls and a turret system to aim without rotating the entire machine. Much of the robot's operation is autonomous, relying on programming developed by the students.

  • The FIRST World Championship in Houston begins on April 28, 2026.
  • The Awesome Possums team has been working on their robot since the start of the school year.

The players

Jacob Guadalupe

A student on the Awesome Possums team who loves the process of creating robots from scratch.

Lincoln Carter

A student on the Awesome Possums team who finds it rewarding to use his creative ideas to benefit the entire team.

Awesome Possums

A robotics team from Oklahoma City that has qualified for the FIRST World Championship in Houston.

FIRST Tech Challenge

A robotics competition for middle and high school students that challenges them to design, build, and program robots to compete in various tasks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Robotics is shaping my future career goals. I hope to pursue mechanical engineering.”

— Lincoln Carter, Student

“I love the process of creating robots from scratch. It's really rewarding.”

— Jacob Guadalupe, Student

What’s next

The Awesome Possums team is currently fundraising to cover the travel and competition expenses for their trip to the FIRST World Championship in Houston. They have set up an online donation page and are also hosting a fundraiser at a local Raising Cane's restaurant.

The takeaway

The Awesome Possums' journey to the FIRST World Championship showcases the power of STEM education and the impact it can have on inspiring young people to pursue careers in fields like engineering and robotics. Their achievement is a testament to the importance of fostering creativity, technical skills, and community support in the next generation of innovators.