Small Michigan School's Robotics Teams Inspire Educators

Students from Benzie Central in rural Michigan got to show off their robots to hundreds of educators, and the grown-ups couldn't stop asking questions.

The school's Husky Robotics teams set up their display at TeachMichigan's EmpowerEd Weekend in Traverse City on May 1-2. They brought competition robots and partial playing fields to demonstrate VEX Robotics challenges while sharing what makes their program special.

Three teams represented the school. The middle school Party Cats earned a Design Award and advanced to state championships earlier this year. The Three Airheads, another middle school team, demonstrated their work alongside their peers.

High school team Perpetual brought serious credentials. The duo won the Innovate Award at the state championship, earning a spot at the VEX World Championship for the second year running.

This year they chose to skip worlds and focus on preparing for next season instead. Last year they competed in Dallas against the world's top teams.

"We showed people what the robots could do and talked about the students' interest in the robotics programs," said coach Marc Alderman, who founded Husky Robotics in 2018.

The Ripple Effect

What started as an after-school program has grown into something bigger. Every seventh grader at Benzie Central now takes an introductory robotics class, giving all students hands-on experience with engineering and technology.

The district recently launched a yearlong middle school robotics class focused on future technology. The Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club stepped up with financial support to make it happen.

For a small rural district, the commitment sends a clear message. These skills matter, and every student deserves access to them.

The EmpowerEd Weekend conference attracts about 1,000 educators twice yearly. They gather to share solutions and strengthen Michigan's education system. This year, student innovation took center stage.

Watching middle schoolers confidently explain complex engineering to experienced teachers shows what's possible when schools invest in student passion.