Red Hawk Robotics Place in World Championships
By Nancy Clover
Photo From Red Hawk Robotics
Welcome home to the incredible Melrose High School Red Hawks Robotics team!
After competing in the prestigious World Championship Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas — alongside 600 teams from across the globe — the Red Hawks are home not just exhausted, but absolutely triumphant with a 32nd finish in the Newton Division and Winners of the Creativity Award!
Let that sink in for a second...out of hundreds of the best teams on the planet, our students rose to be in the top 93 percentile with innovation, ingenuity, and pure determination.
This isn’t just “a robotics club.” This is an elite, world-class program. Along with placing at the World Championship, they ranked #9 in Massachusetts and in the top 5% worldwide, they took home the Industrial Design Award, and they earned the Engineering Inspiration Award (sponsored by SpaceX!).
Students aren’t just “building robots” — they’re running a full-scale engineering operation:
- Designing in CAD
- Machining + wiring
- Coding in Java
- Strategizing with real-time data scouting
- Fundraising to keep the program FREE and accessible to all students
Their 2026 robot? Built for a new archaeology-themed game, capable of scoring at jaw-dropping speeds — even while being slammed by competitors.
Photo From Red Hawk Robotics
Red Hawk Robotics is shaping the future right here in Melrose. They are inclusive by design — this is a free program, and they are breaking down economic and gender barriers in STEM. They are mentorship-driven and powered by dedicated volunteer experts, adults and former students. They focus on having an impact on the community, and hosted the “Red Hawk Rumble” to inspire younger students. And they are built on values — living the FIRST philosophy of gracious professionalism (yes, you can compete hard AND be kind).
Founder James Horne calls it “the best season in program history.”
Faculty advisor Elizabeth Giovanardi highlights what makes it special: veteran and rookie students, tireless mentors, and a team effort that spans engineering, media, strategy, and outreach.
A huge shoutout to the mentors, coaches, and families who make this possible. These students don’t get here alone.
This is what happens when talent, teamwork, and an entire community come together. Melrose should be bursting with pride right now.
Want to be part of what powers this success? You can support the team (and have an amazing time doing it!) by grabbing tickets to the Melrose Kitchen and Sustainability Tour on May 17th. This new tour will feature 10 homes with interesting kitchens that implemented sustainability measures.
Beautiful homes, sustainability inspiration — and you’re helping build the next generation of innovators.
These students are engineers, innovators, leaders — and they’re putting our city on the global stage. Let’s show them how proud we are!