Dakota FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) provides middle and high school students across North Dakota with hands-on opportunities to explore engineering, programming, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership through competitive robotics. The support received through the North Dakota EPSCoR grant played an important role in helping the program provide meaningful STEM experiences to teams from communities across the state.
During the 2025–2026 season, Dakota FTC supported more than 30 teams and hosted events that brought students, coaches, mentors, volunteers, and industry partners together. Grant funding helped support the Dakota FTC State Championship at Bismarck State College, a spring scrimmage at North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, and season kickoff activities in Bismarck and Fargo. These events provided students with opportunities to compete, practice, learn from mentors, work through engineering challenges, and build relationships with other teams.
The funding supported approximately $13,350 in event expenses, including meals, awards, event space, and competition equipment. More importantly, it helped reduce barriers for teams and provide a consistent experience for students regardless of where they live or the resources available in their communities.
The EPSCoR investment helped Dakota FTC continue growing a statewide STEM community while giving North Dakota students practical experience that connects classroom learning to real-world engineering and technology careers.