There will be no problem visiting Houston for the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Robotics FIRST Team 303 T.E.S.T. Team.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School's FIRST Team 303 T.E.S.T. Team competed at the 2026 FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania from Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18.
And this highly gifted group of students from Bridgewater-Raritan High School came away with an elite prize.
The T.E.S.T. Team won the prestigious Engineering Inspiration Award, which guaranteed Bridgewater-Raritan High School an invitation to compete in the FIRST Championships in Houston, Texas, from April 29 to May 2.
According to Jim Griffin, the Robotics Team Advisor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, this is the first time that Team 303 has won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the District Championships and the first time since 2019 that Team 303 has earned an invite to the FIRST Championships.
Mr. Griffin, the high school's STEM Teacher, reported on the honors his students earned.
"The Engineering Inspiration Award is sponsored by SpaceX, and celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team's school or organization, and community."
Mr. Griffin then revealed what the judges announced when presenting the award to the Bridgewater-Raritan High School party of staff and students from Team 303.
"The judges said that this team not only understands FIRST values, but also shares them with their community. This year, they have taken their efforts on tour internationally. Their willingness to T.E.S.T new ideas, such as 3D-3 toys and incorporating a robotics diploma, has already inspired the judges."
Bridgewater-Raritan High School was once a force in Robotics, but this showing at Lehigh signals its return to prominence, with this elite award now secure in its trophy case.
Mr. Griffin shared Team 303's proud history.
"Before COVID and the damage caused to the team workshop by Hurricane Ida, our team would regularly go to the World Championships. That we got an invite this year was just a distant dream at the beginning of the year and it goes to show how hard the team worked this year to rise to the occasion and bring 303 Robotics back to its old form.."
Mr. Griffin concluded by saying that he and the Bridgewater-Raritan High School community are proud of what Team 303 accomplished.
"These kids take pride in bringing an appreciation of STEM to our world, and this award reflects that. Our parents and mentors have really stepped up in a big way this year, and we look forward to having the support of the Bridgewater-Raritan community as we continue to grow and represent our school.
Click on the link below to view a video and photos from Team 303 participating in the First Mid-Atlantic District Championships at Lehigh University.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Team 303 in District Championships at Lehigh University