Cordova High School robotics team competes in international competition

With support from T3 Alaska, the Cordova High School robotics team traveled to Indiana this summer to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge, an international robotics competition. The event brought together more than 1,000 students and 96 teams from six countries. The Cordova team, ranked in the top 10% of more than 8,000 teams, won the Alaska state championship in robotics competition in 2024-2025. They were the only proudly represented rural Alaska on the global stage.

Throughout the competition, students exchanged ideas with peers from around the world and gained valuable insights in programming and custom fabrication. Inspired and energized, they returned home with a broader perspective on robotics technology—and a strong motivation to push further in next year’s season.

As part of their experience, students also had the opportunity to visit Chicago’s Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry.

T3 Cordova coach Nachi Yellapragada accompanied the students, actively engaging in all aspects of the trip. His mentorship in programming and 3D printing was a major asset to the team. “The students had a fantastic time at the international robotics event, learned a lot, and are motivated to do more next season. We are grateful to T3 Alasak for supporting our team, community, and STEM opportunities for youth,” said Jeremiah Beckett, Cordova High School Robotics advisor. For more than a decade, Mr. Beckett has led the robotics club, guiding students through competitions and innovation in STEM.