Midland ISD Robotics Teams Shine at Regional Qualifier

Nine teams advance to Panhandle championship after strong performances at local competition

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Midland ISD hosted the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Area Qualifier, where high school robotics teams from across West Texas competed in autonomous and driver-controlled robot matches, as well as judged interviews evaluating design, teamwork, outreach and innovation. A total of nine Midland ISD teams earned top honors and advanced to the FTC Panhandle Region Championship in Lubbock on February 28.

Why it matters

The FTC Midland Robotics competition showcases the STEM skills that Midland ISD students are developing through their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The event highlights the value of industry partnerships and community volunteers in preparing students for high-demand technology and engineering careers.

The details

The FTC Midland Qualifier, sponsored by ConocoPhillips, featured teams competing in a variety of challenges to demonstrate their engineering design, collaboration and problem-solving abilities. Midland ISD students earned multiple awards, including the Design Award, Think Award, Inspire Award, and Connect Award. The top-performing teams will now advance to the regional championship in Lubbock.

  • Midland ISD hosted the FTC Midland Qualifier on February 11, 2026.
  • The FTC Panhandle Region Championship will be held on February 28, 2026 in Lubbock.

The players

Jeff Horner

Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Midland ISD.

Robo Junkies

A Midland ISD robotics team that earned the Design Award and served as Winning Alliance Captain.

OmegaBotz

A Midland ISD robotics team that earned the Think Award (second place) and were the Winning Alliance Partners.

Knight Dawgs

A Midland ISD robotics team that earned the Inspire Award (second place) and advanced as Finalist Alliance Partners.

Alpha Dawgs

A Midland ISD robotics team that received the Inspire Award (third place) and were Finalist Alliance Captains.

Servo Rays

A Midland ISD robotics team that earned the Connect Award.

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What they’re saying

“The FTC Midland Robotics competition highlights the STEM skills our students are developing through CTE and in Midland ISD. We are grateful to our many volunteers, ConocoPhillips, CM Welding & Manufacturing and Tanklogix for partnering with us in making this season and our final event possible.”

— Jeff Horner, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), Midland ISD (mrt.com)

What’s next

The nine Midland ISD teams that advanced from the local qualifier will compete at the FTC Panhandle Region Championship on February 28, 2026 in Lubbock.

The takeaway

Midland ISD's strong performance at the FTC Midland Qualifier demonstrates the district's commitment to STEM education and the value of industry partnerships in preparing students for high-demand technology and engineering careers.