A team of eager young engineers from North Desoto Middle School competed at the 2023 NSU Robotics Competition and Smart Structures Show held Wednesday, November 20 on the Northwestern State University campus. The team garnered a third place finish and is under the direction of STEM electives teacher Ms. Stephanie Mason. Ms. Mason is in her 3rd year at North Desoto Middle School and her 16th year as a teacher. Ms. Mason was also presented with a well-deserved STEM Teacher Award by the STEM Pioneers and NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology.

The competition, in its 9th year of promoting fun and learning, is sponsored by NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology. The event is designed for junior high aged students and consists of a series of challenges for the teams’ robots in speed, accuracy, strength, and maze running. Each team’s robot is built and programmed by the young people on the team and may not be touched after starting an event. The competition featured teams from Caddo, Desoto, and Natchitoches parishes. Representatives from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts were on hand to assist the judges and spread the word about the wonderful opportunities afforded by the school.

The annual NSU Robotics Competition and Smart Structures Show is more than a competition. It is also a superb opportunity to develop student skills in teamwork, problem solving and much more. NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology has done a superb job over the years in organizing and hosting this event. They clearly love their area of study, and their enthusiasm is obvious – and contagious. The DeSoto Parish Journal would also like to commend Ms. Mason and the young men and women of the North Desoto Middle School Robotics Team, Keep working and keep learning!