Christian high school student wins prestigious robotics leadership award

A Michigan Christian high school student has won a worldwide robotics award as part of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics competition.

Julia Fisk, a student at Calvary Baptist Academy in Midland, Michigan, competed against more than 2,000 students from around the world in this year’s FIRST robotics competition.

In the competition, high school students built an industrial-sized robot using a kit of parts and programmed it to play a challenging game, which is released each year in January.

Fisk advanced through multiple stages of the competition before receiving the prestigious FIRST Robotics Leadership Award. Earlier this year, she was nominated by her team alongside one other student, and advanced as 2,200 nominees moved to the next round.

At the state championship, Fisk went through an interview process and essay review at the district level. She was chosen to be one of 80 finalists to move on to the world championship event.

A panel of judges reviewed each contestant’s nomination and interview material at the May 1 FIRST Championship Worlds Event in Houston. The judges selected 10 final winners – including Fisk – to receive the leadership award.

“I was definitely surprised, but it was a very good surprise,” she told the Midland Daily News. “I’m very happy. No one from the mid-Michigan area had ever won that award before. It was very exciting.”

Nine of the competition’s winners are from across the United States, and one is from Mexico.

“It’s a huge honor, great recognition of all the hard work Julia has put in over the years,” Fisk’s mother and CBA robotics coach, Jaime Fisk, told the Midland Daily News. “But this is a team effort as well. She works with a great group of students and coaches.

“We’re just excited that this gives more visibility to the great work our team does in the community.”

With one more FIRST competition remaining in her senior year, Fisk plans to continue mentoring younger students and pushing for STEM education.

“We are so proud of you, Julia!” CBA Head of School Dr. David Warren wrote in a press release. “The future is looking bright!

“This win belongs to the whole community!”

(Photo credit: Midland Daily News)