T3 Alaska and Cordova Robotics Team Join Forces to Strengthen STEM Opportunities

T3 Alaska and Cordova High School are aligning efforts to provide students with greater access to STEM education and career pathways. With support from UAF Innovation of Change (IoC), a collaboration between T3 Alaska and the robotics club enables students to participate in both robotics competitions and the broader technology-driven opportunities offered by T3 Alaska.

T3 Alaska Director Adam Low, alongside T3 students and a group of IoC researchers, visited Cordova’s state champions robotics team as they prepared for competition this fall. During the visit, students introduced their game, while researchers shared insights into their work. This exchange of ideas sparked new enthusiasm, leading to two T3 Alaska students joining the robotics team. Additionally, the robotics students were excited to learn they qualified for the T3 Alaska Summer Program, further expanding their opportunities.

Recognizing the challenge of competing STEM commitments, T3 Alaska and the robotics club saw an opportunity to collaborate rather than compete for student participation. By working together, both programs can offer greater flexibility and access to shared resources, including T3 Alaska’s makerspace, mini-grants, and subject matter experts, alongside the robotics team’s technical expertise and competition experience.

With IoC’s support, T3 Alaska plans to develop a FIRST Robotics Start-Up Kit to help more students enter the world of robotics. Both groups also aim to attend UAF’s Innovation Weekend, setting students on a trajectory toward STEM careers and higher education. This partnership strengthens Alaska’s future workforce by ensuring students have the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive in STEM fields.