Students from Sandwich Secondary School are preparing to take their talents to the global stage after a major win at the Ontario Provincial Championships. The school’s robotics team, Sabre Bytes (FIRST Robotics Competition Team 772), has qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championship, set to take place in Houston, Texas, from April 29 to May 2.

The team earned its place at the international competition by winning the prestigious FIRST Impact Award at the provincial event after being finalists in their division. The award recognizes teams that demonstrate outstanding efforts in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in their communities, and is widely regarded as one of the highest honors in the competition.

Only 21 teams from across Canada have secured a spot at this year’s World Championship, and Sabre Bytes is the only team representing Southwest Ontario. In total, Canadian teams will make up just 3 percent of the approximately 550 teams attending from 29 countries.

The World Championship is expected to draw more than 6,000 participants, mentors, and spectators, making it one of the largest international STEM events for high school students.

“This is an incredible achievement for our students,” the team shared. “Winning the FIRST Impact Award and qualifying for worlds reflects years of hard work, community outreach, and dedication to STEM.”

As the team prepares for Houston, members are also seeking support from local businesses and community partners to help offset the costs of travel, accommodations, and competition fees.

Beyond competition, the experience offers students valuable exposure to real-world engineering challenges, collaboration, and innovation; skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

With their recent success and upcoming journey, the Sabre Bytes are set to showcase the strength of student talent in Southwest Ontario on one of the world’s biggest robotics stages.