Students on the El Dorado High School robotics team didn’t hesitate to help the Big Bend High School robotics team in Terlingua, Texas, after finding out their lab had caught on fire and all their equipment had been lost.
The robotics teams were getting ready to compete at the First Tech Challenge Regional Robotics Competition in the spring of 2023 in Lubbock, Texas.
The students had become friendly after crossing paths several times while participating in robotics competitions.
When the students at El Dorado heard what had happened to their friends, they unanimously decided to lend their equipment and tools, so that the Big Bend team wouldn’t miss out on their opportunity to compete.
Some of the items they shared included their robot and a driving hub.
“When we heard about the fire that happened at Big Bend, we felt like it was the right thing to do to help them prepare for their competition,” said German Velarde, a sophomore at El Dorado High School and president of the Aztecs’ robotics team. “Robotics is built on comradery. We’re not opponents, we see each other as fellow engineers, which allows us to connect more and that made us more than willing to help.”
El Dorado High School robotics coach Roberto Reyes said when he came in to school the morning the team had found about the Big Bend team’s misfortune, his students had already decided to help the neighboring district and he was happy to give his full support.
“I don’t have words to express how proud I am that these students went out of their way to help other kids,” Reyes said. “We compete against each other, but we are respectful and support each other in this program. We are happy for them to be able to compete and to share this experience with them.”
After Reyes and his students packed up the equipment and tools, he drove to Van Horn to meet the Big Bend’s team coach Brad Anthenant.
Anthenant and the Terlingua Common School District superintendent Regan Reed were moved by the selflessness, generosity, and determination of the El Dorado team to help their robotics friends in Big Bend.
“This kindness and graciousness led to our kids indeed competing (at regionals) and qualifying for the UIL 1A-4A division at state in Belton, where we placed second,” Reed said. “This is a huge accomplishment for our kids, and we truly feel that Mr. Reyes and his robotics students share in our success.”