Bethpage High School once again opened its doors to the robotics community on Mar. 1, hosting the Eighth Annual Regal Eagle Rampage – a day-long invitational event that drew 20 FIRST Robotics Competition teams from across the region. Sponsored by Optimum, the gathering gave teams, including Bethpage's own Regal Eagles, dedicated time to fine-tune their machines in a pressure-free environment before the regional competition season heats up.
Over the course of the day, students worked on 23 robots, running calibration sessions and practice matches on a full-scale wooden replica of the official FIRST Robotics Competition field. The hands-on atmosphere was electric (no pun intended!), with student engineers troubleshooting, adjusting and pushing their designs to the limit under simulated competition conditions.
But the Rampage has always been about more than just the high school teams. Representatives from JFK Middle School and Charles Campagne School brought their FIRST Lego League Challenge robots and presentation boards, setting up displays that gave younger students a front-row seat to what competitive robotics looks like at the next level. For many of them, it was a first glimpse at the path ahead.
The day also featured the Women in STEMinar, held in the school's STEM lab, where students and guests gathered for discussions and presentations centered on the contributions and opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – a highlight that has become a meaningful part of the event's identity.
This year's FIRST Robotics challenge, Rebuilt, tasked two competing alliances with scoring fuel into their alliance hub, navigating field obstacles including bumps and trenches, and racing to climb a tower before time expired. Bonus rewards incentivized teams to hit scoring thresholds and execute endgame climbs, adding an extra layer of strategy to every match.
The Regal Eagles – made up of students in grades nine through twelve – represent the best of Bethpage's STEM culture. The team emphasizes engineering, marketing, outreach, computer-aided design and robot design, with mentors Leon LaSpina, Eric Kay, and Andrew Choi guiding students through each stage of the build and competition season. The program's focus extends beyond robotics: students come away with problem-solving instincts, leadership experience and a foundation for careers in STEM and beyond.
The Eighth Annual Regal Eagle Rampage was, by every measure, a success – a reminder of what's possible when students, educators and community partners come together around a shared passion for innovation.
