NEW YORK — The Centre County 4-H Robotics (CC4H Robotics) high school team, Centre Punch, has earned a coveted spot at the 2026 FIRST World Championship following an outstanding performance at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Gotham Regional in New York City.

Competing April 6-8 at the historic NYC Armory, Centre Punch faced off against 41 elite robotics teams representing eight countries from around the globe. Demonstrating exceptional engineering, teamwork and strategic execution, the team advanced to the finals and secured a runner-up finish, placing second overall in the highly competitive field, according to a press release from CentreSTEM, Inc.

In addition to their on-field success, Centre Punch was honored with a Creativity Award, with judges commenting on the many unique design features of the team’s robot. The Centre Punch robot featured the only working climbing mechanism at the event, which allowed them to grab a bar and lift their 135 pound robot off the ground in under a second.

Their success as event finalists and award winners officially qualifies the team for the 2026 FIRST World Championship, held April 29 through May 2 in Houston, Texas. This marks a significant milestone for CC4H Robotics, representing the program’s first return to the World Championship since 2019 and follows their incredible 2018 season where they were part of the alliance which won the international event.

The FIRST Championship is the world’s premier K-12 robotics competition, bringing together 600 teams from at least 60 countries along with hundreds of industry leaders, mentors and volunteers. The event showcases the highest level of student innovation, collaboration and STEM excellence on a global stage, said Bill Gendron, mentor of the CC4H Robotics Business Team.

Centre Punch will now prepare to compete against the world’s best, carrying the pride of Centre County and the broader Pennsylvania community to Houston.

“This is an incredible accomplishment for our students,” said team leadership. “Their dedication, creativity and perseverance have earned them the opportunity to compete on the world stage once again. We are proud to represent our community and excited for the challenge ahead.”

Community

support needed

Participation in the World Championship presents a significant and unexpected financial commitment for the team. Community support is critical to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to attend and compete.

Those interested in supporting the team’s journey to Houston can contribute through the team’s fundraising campaign at gofundme.com/f/Send-Centre-Punch-To-Houston.