McKinney STEAM Academy

Next in our Senior Spotlights for the Class of 2026 is Rachel K., who helped support our media team throughout the season!

Starting off our Senior Spotlights for the Class of 2026 is Brady H., our Team Captain, Operator, and Lead Dancer on the Drive Team!

What a wonderful close to an incredible season full of growth and memories. We are proud to have represented Texas at the 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in the Curie division. We were incredibly honored to have been chosen by the first alliance, competing alongside Team 5907 CC Shambots, Team 166 Chop Shop, and Team 8595 This Is How We Play. Together, we finished as Curie Division Finalists—an achievement that reflects the hard work, innovation, and teamwork that defined our season.

We are beyond grateful to have received the Engineering Inspiration Award at the world level. This recognition reflects our mission to expand access to STEAM, uplift our community, and inspire the next generation through outreach, education, and mentorship. Thank you to our sponsors, mentors, parents, and community for supporting us and helping grow the mission of FIRST.

Worlds wasn’t just about competing—it was about “More Than Robots.” From troubleshooting in the pits to sharing parts and supporting other teams, our Merc Medics were always ready to help. We were also honored to host a booth showcasing SWE-Next and encouraging more girls to pursue opportunities in STEAM.

Thank you to all of our alliance partners, mentors, sponsors, parents, families, and supporters. Your constant encouragement makes moments like this possible. And to every team we met and learned from, thank you for making this season unforgettable.

From kickoff to Worlds, this season has been one of growth, grit, and purpose. And while this chapter comes to a close, we are more motivated than ever to keep building, inspiring, and making an impact.

We will see you next season! ❤️🖤🐼

What a wonderful close to an incredible season full of growth and memories. We are proud to have represented Texas at the 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in the Curie division. We were incredibly honored to have been chosen by the first alliance, competing alongside Team 5907 CC Shambots, Team 166 Chop Shop, and Team 8595 This Is How We Play. Together we worked alongside our partners and finished as Curie Division Finalists— an amazing achievement that reflects the hard work, innovation, and teamwork that defined our entire season.

We are beyond grateful and honored to have received the Engineering Inspiration Award at the World’s level. This recognition means so much to us, as it represents our mission to expand access to STEAM, uplift our community, and inspire the next generation through outreach, education, and mentorship. We want to thank all of our sponsors, our community, our mentors, and our parents for all the support and assistance in spreading STEAM and giving us the opportunity to grow the mission of FIRST.

Worlds wasn’t just about competing— it was about “More Than Robots”. We believe that everyone should have a space to explore STEAM and robotics in a positive way at competitions, on the playing field, and at home. From helping other teams in the pits through troubleshooting, supplying parts, and fixing robots, our Merc Medics were always ready to lend a helping hand throughout the completion. Additionally, our team was grateful to have been invited to have a booth to display and spread what SWE-Next (Society of Women Engineers) is and how females can get more involved in STEAM opportunities and education.

Thank you to all of our alliance partners, mentors, sponsors, parents, families, and supporters. Your constant encouragement and belief in us make moments like this possible. And to every team we met, worked with, and learned from, thank you for making this experience and season unforgettable.

From kickoff to Worlds, this season has been one of growth, grit, and purpose. And while this chapter comes to a close, we are more motivated than ever to keep making an impact.

We will see you next season! ❤️🖤🐼

The FIRST in Texas State Championship of 2026 was an unforgettable milestone for Mercenary Robotics. Working alongside our amazing alliance partners Itkan 9128 and Robobots 9140 (as Alliance 1) we were named both the Apollos Division Champions and the FiT District Champions. Serving as the captain of Alliance 1, this victory reflected the dedication and teamwork our members have poured in all season.

We are honored to have also received the Engineering Inspiration Award. This achievement means so much to us as it represents our continued commitment to spreading STEAM and making a lasting impact in our community. We want to thank all of our sponsors, community members, mentors, and many others for giving us a space to share FIRST and bring STEAM to more people— as it would not be possible without all of your support.

This event was especially meaningful as we continued to work alongside other FRC teams through M.E. FIRST and get to know fellow robotics students through our Reboot and Recharge event. We always are working to create a more inclusive and supportive environment within the FIRST community; and by being able to connect, uplift, and inspire others while competing at the highest level made this experience truly special.

Thank you to our incredible alliance partners, mentors, sponsors, families, and supporters who have been with us every step of the way. Your belief in us makes moments like this possible. We are so excited to carry this momentum forward.

Take a break from the competition and join us at our Reboot & Recharge space at State Champs, where you can relax, connect with fellow FRC students, make friendship bracelets, create paracord keychains, and enjoy some snacks while recharging for the rest of the event. We will be located near our scouting table on April 16–17 from 2–4 PM.

Proud to partner with as M.E. FIRST Ambassadors bringing more than just innovation to the Texas State Championship. From the pits to the stands, we’re supporting our community with essential hygiene supplies and making sure everyone feels taken care of.

Amarillo Week 5 was an unforgettable experience for Mercenary Robotics. We are incredibly proud of how everyone performed and represented our team throughout the competition.

We are honored to have received the Impact Award and are thankful to our sponsors, mentors, students, and parents who support us in bringing STEAM opportunities to more around us and sharing the amazing community of FIRST along the way. We would also like to congratulate one of our MSA students on being named a Leadership Award semifinalist for all of her hard work and dedication to STEAM outreach and robotics. 

Beyond the competition, it was especially meaningful to connect with the FRC community through our girls’ meetup and our work as M.E. FIRST Ambassador (supporting students and helping create a more inclusive environment alongside throttle mavericks). 

We would also like to thank our alliance partners, and Phenoms for their collaboration and support. 

Thank you as well to all the volunteers, organizers, and sponsors who made this event possible. We are looking forward to carrying this momentum into state!!!