Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference

05/23/2026

Thanks Lakeland for covering our successes!

A record nine teams from Northern Minnesota qualified for the 14th annual Minnesota State High School Leagues Robotics Tournament, which featured 36 teams overall. Out of those nine teams, the qualification round had Bemidji ranked 15th, Warroad at 11th, Pequot Lakes at 10th, and Brainerd coming in....

05/21/2026

Bemidji pioneer covered our scholarship program!

The Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference recently awarded RoboJacks member Megan Johnson a $500 general scholarship as part of the NMRC Scholarship Program.

05/20/2026

NMRC Alumni!

Some NMRC Alumni (KAOTIC) have started a couple of social media pages in an effort to stay more connected with each other and the NMRC once they leave us.

They plan to share press releases, announcements, and whatever else they deem robot-related...ish on these platforms.

We hope it is a place where they can continue to experience the same camaraderie and gracious professionalism while they were on our teams.

Please share these links with your former team members and especially your Seniors!

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nmrconferencealumni?igsh=NXl6dWh6bDN3ZWRv&utm_source=qr

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EepqHm5ar/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thank you,

Digital creator

05/13/2026

The NMRC is more then robots! Check out this year's scholarship recipients! Congratulations! We are so excited to see what lies ahead for you!

____________

Bemidji, MN (May 12, 2026) - The Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference (NMRC) is pleased to announce the fifth annual recipients of our NMRC Scholarship Program.

The NMRC strongly believes that we should not only support our students while in HS but that we should do what we can to ensure that they have life long success. We want robotics to have a lasting and positive effect that students find life changing. While we support students in many forms, we would also like to assist well deserving students from our region in a financial capacity as they pursue their passions professionally during their post-secondary education.

We are pleased to be awarding funds to support students through two primary scholarships on an annual basis. The first of these is our General Scholarship ($500) which is open to any student participating in robotics from our service area. Students can pursue any career or area of interest they have during post secondary education. This could be a traditional four year institution, two year institutions such as community or technical colleges, or an (industry standard/professionally recognized) trade program or certification.

The second scholarship we award is our General Scholarship for Under-represented Groups. ($500) This scholarship is guided by the same criteria as the aforementioned General Scholarship but exists to specifically address the needs of underrepresented groups. It is our goal to do all we can to assist students as they work towards obtaining a career that will allow them to be contributors to our vibrant communities.

This year's NMRC General Scholarship award winner is Megan Johnson.
Megan is a member of the robotics team at Bemidji HS, team #4674 RoboJacks.

In the essay portion of her submission she wrote about her experiences in FIRST robotics saying.

“I have gained from FIRST the ability to work with all kinds of people, regardless of who they are. I have learned how to work with others to get the best outcome possible from Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition…I have learned how to create an inclusive environment so everyone can freely speak their minds….FIRST (robotics) has made me a better person and a better leader in my everyday life.”

Coach teacher Richard Toward, in a letter of recommendation, praised her personal attributes including her leadership ability.

“ Megan Johnson is a highly visible, outstanding student with a natural tendency to pursue the best in herself and her peers. She has been an active and positive force within our student population and has demonstrated her various talents in the classroom and in the community…What separates Megan from many of her peers is witnessed by the numerous leadership roles bestowed upon her by her coaches and advisers. This characteristic may be her strongest attribute.”

This year's NMRC General Scholarship for Under-represented Groups award winner is Kara Kostohyrz. Kara is a member of the robotics team from Perham H.S., team #3297 the Full Metal Jackets.

In Kara’s submission essay she spoke of the opportunities for personal growth.

“Through FIRST Robotics, I have gained incredible opportunities, lifelong friendships, and priceless memories. Collaborating with my team and others has provided a supportive environment for me to grow, helping me transition from a quiet student to a confident leader. ”
Perham’s coach Clayton Johnson, in a letter of recommendation, spoke of Kara’s selflessness and leadership abilities.

“ In my role as a coach, and after nearly 10 years in FIRST Robotics as both a student and mentor, I have worked with hundreds of students. Kara stands out in a way that cannot be taught. The way she carries herself, dedicates herself, and leads is something I have not seen in other students. She is a true team-first leader. She is not loud or attention-seeking, but she raises the level of everyone around her through her actions, consistency, and character. “

On behalf of all our member teams and our students the NMRC would like to congratulate these awardees. Additionally a special thanks to all of those individuals and organizations who have made contributions to the scholarship fund. If you would like to learn more about the application process or support the NMRC scholarship fund please visit the scholarship page on our website at www.nmrconference.org/nmrc-scholarship

Respectfully,
Matthew Wendland
President
Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference
www.nmrconference.org

05/13/2026

Another NMRC student in the news!

🟢HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Alivia Mickle! 🟢

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Alivia for being named an All-State Competition Team Member by the Minnesota Robotics Coaches Association! 🏆 This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding dedication, leadership, talent, and impact within Minnesota’s FIRST Robotics programs.

Alivia will be recognized at the Minnesota State High School League Robotics State Championship on May 16, 2026 — what an amazing accomplishment! 🎉

Your hard work, innovation, and commitment to robotics with the 3102 Tech-No-Tigers of Nevis have made a lasting impact, and this recognition is so well deserved. We can’t wait to see all the incredible things you accomplish next! 💚

05/06/2026

NMRC Teams and their students making big headlines!

🤖🎉 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Briley Olsonawski! 🎉🤖

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Briley for being named an All-State Competition Team Member by the Minnesota Robotics Coaches Association! 🏆👏 This is a prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding dedication, talent, and impact in Minnesota’s FIRST Robotics programs. 💡🔧

Briley will be recognized at the Minnesota State High School League Robotics State Championship on May 16th, 2026—what an amazing accomplishment! 🚀

Your hard work, innovation, and commitment to robotics have made a lasting impact, and this recognition is so well deserved. 💙

05/04/2026

Well, the 2026 FRC season is in the books, sort of. At least the "Official FIRST Season" is over anyway. Now on to the state tournament and the off-season events for "Rebuilt".

But first, let's take a minute to congratulate all of our teams that qualified for the World Championships and take a look at how things went for those who competed over the weekend.

2883 - Daly Division - Ranked 29th - (5-5)
3277 - Milstein Division - Ranked 50th - (3-7)
3293 - Declined Invitation
3297 - Hopper Division - Ranked 53th - (3-7)
4674 - Daly Division - Ranked 24th - (6-4)
5653 - Galileo Division - Ranked 47th (4-6)
5913 - Galileo Division - Ranked 3rd (8-1)
7257 - Johnson Division - Ranked
11223 - Declined Invitation (Competed at Worlds in the FLL Category)
Overall Qualification record 29-30

Playoffs
5913 - 2nd Seed - Alliance Captain - (2-2) Finished 4th Place
7257 - 4th Seed - 3rd Pick - (1-2) Finished Tied for 5th Place

All of our teams represented Minnesota and the NMRC well. We are so proud of their efforts this past week. Great Job!

TEAMS! Post a picture of some of your world's experiences in the comments!

04/22/2026

First World Championship!!!

The attached press release regarding the NMRC (Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference) teams who have qualified for the World Championships is authorized for immediate distribution and publication.

If you would like more information about any of these teams for a local spotlight, please feel free to contact their head coaches directly at the following email addresses.

Team 2883 – F.R.E.D (FIRST Robotics Engineering and Design)
Community Represented: Warroad, MN
Head Coach: Jeremy Culleton
Email: [email protected]

Team 3277 – Pro-Digi
Community Represented: Thief River Falls, MN
Head Coach: Natasha Olsonawski
Email: [email protected]

Team 3293 – OtterBots
Community Represented: Fergus Falls, MN
Head Coach: William Swanson
Email: [email protected]

Team 3297 – Full Metal Jackets
Community Represented: Perham, MN
Head Coach: Ryan Kostohryz
Email: [email protected]

Team 4674 – RoboJacks
Community Represented: Bemidji, MN
Head Coach: Kirk Anderson
Email: [email protected]

Team 5653 – Iron Mosquitos
Community Represented: Babbitt, MN
Head Coach: Ryan Lindsay
Email: [email protected]

Team 5913 – Patriotics
Community Represented: Pequot Lakes, MN
Head Coach: Keith Lumley
Email: [email protected]

Team 7257 – Semiconductors
Community Represented: Fergus Falls, MN
Head Coach: Brian Riley
Email: [email protected]

Team 11223 – Whistlepunks
Community Represented: Bemidji, MN
Head Coach: Travis Whittington
Email: [email protected]

Please join us in wishing these teams Good Luck as they represent our region! Teams tag your socials below so viewers can follow you!

Thank You!

04/20/2026

NMRC teams checking out the NorthSTAR!

04/17/2026

Nine Northern Minnesota Robotics Teams Qualify for MSHSL State Tournament

Bemidji, MN (April 16, 2026) - Excitement is building across Northern Minnesota as nine regional robotics teams have officially qualified for the Minnesota State Robotics Tournament—an impressive achievement in the state’s most competitive STEM activity.

Out of 184 varsity robotics teams across Minnesota, only 36 earn a spot in the MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) state tournament. The state is divided into eight sections, with just two guaranteed qualifying spots from each section. The remaining 20 spots are awarded through a highly competitive statewide ranking system, making qualification a significant accomplishment.

Conference member teams from Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference participate in three
different sections in the state, making this achievement even more impressive. With nine teams advancing, the region is strongly represented among the state’s top competitors.

Teams who have qualified for the state tournament this year include:

Team 7257, Semiconductors (Sauk Centre High School)
Team 5653, Iron Mosquitos (Northeast Range High School, Babbitt)
Team 2503, Warrior Robotics (Brainerd High School)
Team 5913, Patriotics (Pequot Lakes High School)
The defending state champion; Team 3297, Full Metal Jackets (Perham-Dent High School)
Team 4674, RoboJacks (Bemidji High School)
Team 3293, OtterBots (Fergus Falls High School)
Team 3277, Pro-Digi (Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls)
Team 2883, FRED (Warroad High School)

Students secured their spots through outstanding performances in regional competitions held in Duluth, Grand Forks, St. Cloud, the Twin Cities, and Winona, demonstrating creativity,
problem-solving skills, and exceptional teamwork. Their success reflects not only individual talent, but also the strength and depth of robotics programs across Northern Minnesota.

We are incredibly excited and proud of our team's students. Having nine teams qualify for state speaks volumes about their dedication, teamwork, and passion for robotics.

The MSHSL State Robotics Tournament will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the
Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St Paul, MN.

The state tournament will bring together the top teams from across Minnesota, where students will compete, collaborate, and celebrate innovation. Beyond the competition, participants gain valuable real-world skills in engineering, programming, and teamwork—experiences that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

Community members are encouraged to support and celebrate these talented students as theyprepare to represent their communities and all of Northern Minnesota on the state stage.
For more about the NMRC as a whole please visit our website at www.NMRConference.org You canlearn about our teams under the “Members” tab.

The NMRC supports a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of students in our region. Many of these can be tied to the rural isolation many of them face. With this in mind we have developed programs here in our region to address this inequity due to geography. To support these efforts the NM...