Virginia Middle School Robotics Team Wins Innovation Prize

Four middle schoolers from Richmond County, Virginia just proved that small teams can tackle big engineering challenges.

The Richmond County Middle School Robotics Team tied for first place at the annual Innovation Challenge at Dahlgren over the weekend. Competing against 34 other teams at the Fredericksburg Convention Center, students Allison Sanchez Ramos, Mary Clare Ailor, Kate Schmidt, and Angel Ortuno Mendez demonstrated technical skills and problem-solving under pressure.

The invitation-only competition brought together middle and high school students to solve complex engineering problems. Teams had to show not just technical knowledge but also critical thinking and resilience.

Coaches Preston Ailor and Carrie Walston guided the team to victory. Fredericksburg Academy Team 1 shared the first place middle school title with Richmond County.

Tyler Truslow, STEM director at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), called it "the STEM Superbowl of the year." The event represents months of preparation by students, teachers, and Navy engineers working together.

The Ripple Effect

This competition does more than crown winners. Students work directly with real engineers and hear from Navy leadership about how innovation strengthens national defense.

NSWCDD views the challenge as workforce development in action. "If we want to be ready to support the fleet tomorrow, we have to invest in students today," Truslow explained.

The event is the flagship of NSWCDD's STEM outreach efforts, which also include robotics competitions and technology donations to local schools. By giving students hands-on engineering experience now, the program builds the next generation of problem solvers.

These four middle schoolers from Richmond County just showed what young minds can accomplish when given the right support and challenge.