At 4:30 in the morning on Saturday, June 6th, eight Schenectady High School students climbed into a van and drove three hours to Norwalk, Connecticut. They wouldn't return home until nearly midnight. What happened in between? In the words of one student, Demetrius: "Saturday was a movie."

This is the story of the Schenectady Combat Robotics Club (SCRC), a grant that made the impossible possible, and a group of kids who fell in love with engineering they'd never even heard of a few months earlier.

Here's what you'll learn: how the club built battle-ready robots from scratch, how they stacked up against some of the sharpest engineering minds in the country, and why this trip mattered far beyond the scoreboard.

The Grant That Got Them There

Combat robotics is not a cheap sport. Building a competition-ready 3lb robot takes specialized parts, tools, and materials—and the costs add up fast.

Thanks to an SCSDEF grant secured by teacher Andrew Davis, the club purchased everything they needed to build their bots and travel to compete. The destination was the National Havoc Robot League (NHRL), widely recognized as the toughest combat robotics competition in the world.

Without this funding, the trip simply wouldn't have happened. The grant covered materials for the robots and made room for eight students and two teachers to make the journey. That support turned an idea into an experience these students will never forget.

Competing Against the Best in the Country

Here's what makes this achievement so remarkable: the students weren't just competing against other kids.

They were up against seasoned builders with years of experience and engineering degrees from top universities—MIT, RPI, RIT, WPI, Cornell, and more. These were serious competitors who knew the sport inside and out.

How the Results Break Down

Most first-time NHRL competitors finish with a record of 0-2. It's that hard. Here's how Schenectady's students did:

Three students finished 0-2
Two students finished 1-2
One student finished 2-2
Two students finished 3-1 and made it to the final 16 out of 80 bots

Reaching the final 16 is a huge accomplishment at a competition of this caliber. In fact, SCRC is now the best-performing high school team that attends NHRL. Let that sink in—a group of Schenectady students outperformed high school teams from across the country against opponents with far more experience.

More Than a Competition: Opening Doors to STEM

The real goal was never just about winning matches. It was about introducing students to a sport built on engineering and STEM principles.

Combat robotics blends problem-solving, design, hands-on building, and strategy. For many of these students, it was a world they didn't know existed. By the end of the trip, they were hooked.

They came back buzzing with ideas: new bot designs, better driving techniques, smarter attack strategies. When students start dreaming about next year before this year is even over, you know something clicked. That's the goal, achieved.

The Challenges Behind the Scenes

Every great story includes obstacles, and this one is no different. Being honest about the hurdles makes the wins even more meaningful.

Unexpected Costs

Building competition robots comes with surprises. Beyond the main materials, the team needed extra tools, replacement parts, team shirts, and meals during the trip. Small costs pile up quickly, and planning for all of them is a lesson learned for next time.

Pressure and Nerves

Competition brings adrenaline, and adrenaline can lead to mistakes. One student was so amped up that he dropped and broke his controller right before a match, forcing a forfeit. Another made a small error during repairs and had to forfeit as well.

These moments sting, but they're part of learning. Handling pressure is a skill—one these students are already determined to master next season.

Getting the Bots Done in Time

Coordinating a group of busy high schoolers is tough. Between other clubs, responsibilities at home, and schoolwork, consistent attendance was a real challenge. But the team pulled it off and finished their builds. Next year, the goal is to complete the bots earlier so there's more time to practice before the competition.

What Comes Next

The best part of this story? It's just the beginning.

Every student who made the trip wants to compete again next year. Word is spreading, too—more and more students have been stopping by Mr. Davis's classroom asking how they can join. The interest is real, and the club is ready to grow.

These students discovered a passion, built something with their own hands, and proved they belong on a national stage. They found confidence, curiosity, and a love of STEM that will follow them long after high school.

None of it would have been possible without the generosity of our community. A heartfelt thank you to everyone at the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation for helping these students experience something they'll remember for a lifetime. Because sometimes, with the right support, a Saturday really can feel like a movie.