At Niagara College’s Welland Campus on April 12, a three-team alliance featuring St. Catharines’ Simbotics 1114, Toronto’s Panthera Tigris 919, and Stoney Creek’s Op Robotics 2056 rose together to claim top honours at the FIRST Robotics Competition.
The unique STEM competition that sees students design, build and battle robots brought together 27 teams from across the province, each made up of 10 to 45 students in grades nine through 12. The teams and their robots battled in the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre, showcasing an impressive level of skill, creativity, and collaboration throughout the weekend.
An enthusiastic crowd of over 900 families, friends and guests gathered in the bleachers as gears whirred, sensors flashed, and the competition heated up. Following rounds of qualifiers on Saturday, top-performing teams carried their winning momentum into Sunday when they formed alliances and combined their strengths in a vie to win the top spot.
During opening ceremonies, NC’s Gord Arbeau, Vice-President of Advancement, announced three scholarships of $1,000 for FIRST Robotics Canada participants in attendance who enroll for 2026-27 in Technology or Trades program with have an average of 75 per cent or higher.
NC President Sean Kennedy with the St. Catharines team Simbotics.
Niagara College was proud to host the FIRST Robotics Competition for the second year, showcasing talented young innovators in STEM, creativity, and problem-solving, closely aligned with our values and our commitment to innovative, hands-on learning programs.
Thanks to all the Niagara College volunteers, including judges Neil Wilkinson, Mitchell Lutz, Maura Lecce, Becky Sciliberto, Mike Sciliberto, and Melissa VanderLely; Judge Advisor Dr. Marc Nantel, Volunteer Coordinator, Board of Governor Janet Allan.
