Kalispell Robotics Team Heads to World Championship

RoboScout Squad, an all-girls team, needs $27,000 in funding to compete at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A robotics team from Kalispell, Montana, called the RoboScout Squad, has earned a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston, Texas. The all-girls team won the robot game at the Montana FTC Championship on February 6th and is now facing a significant fundraising challenge to cover travel expenses, equipment transportation, and accommodation for the week-long competition.

Why it matters

The FIRST Tech Challenge is designed to foster STEM education by challenging students to design, build, program, and operate robots. The World Championship provides a platform for these students to showcase their skills and innovation. The RoboScout Squad's participation is particularly noteworthy as they are Montana's only all-girls team in the competition, underscoring the importance of encouraging female participation in STEM fields.

The details

The RoboScout Squad's robot, named 'Bandit,' is a 30-pound machine that represents months of dedicated work by the team. The team needs to raise approximately $27,000 within a nine-week timeframe to cover the costs of the trip. So far, they have raised around $4,500 through initial fundraising efforts, and are seeking support from the Flathead Valley community and beyond through donations and business sponsorships.

  • The RoboScout Squad won the robot game at the Montana FTC Championship on February 6th, 2026.
  • The FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship will be held in Houston, Texas.

The players

RoboScout Squad

An all-girls robotics team from Kalispell, Montana, that earned a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship.

Aubrey Hardwick

A member of the RoboScout Squad.

Dennis Dortch

The coach of the RoboScout Squad, who previously attended the World Championship last year.

Krista Nunnally

A coach for the RoboScout Squad.

Coco Vick

A member of the RoboScout Squad.

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What they’re saying

“It's just been a whole lot of fun, just working on everything, figuring out how to get different things to work.”

— Aubrey Hardwick, Member of the RoboScout Squad (newsdirectory3.com)

“I went to the world championships last year, and I am so excited to go back and do it again.”

— Dennis Dortch, Coach of the RoboScout Squad (newsdirectory3.com)

“We could not do this without a great deal of support from our family, our friends, community business leaders and people who genuinely see the value in what we're doing here and what these kids are learning. We are very very appreciative.”

— Krista Nunnally, Coach of the RoboScout Squad (newsdirectory3.com)

“It would definitely be such an honor and I would love to be able represent to Flathead and Montana as a whole at the world championship.”

— Coco Vick, Member of the RoboScout Squad (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The RoboScout Squad is actively seeking support from the Flathead Valley community and beyond through donations and business sponsorships to raise the $27,000 needed to compete at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston.

The takeaway

The RoboScout Squad's journey to the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship is a testament to the power of STEM education and the importance of encouraging female participation in these fields. Their fundraising efforts and preparation for the competition embody the spirit of resilience and determination that the FIRST program aims to foster in students.