S.P.A.M. Kicks Off 2025 with Regional Victory, Impact Award & #1 World Ranking!

S.P.A.M. students, mentors, alumni, and family celebrate two new banners (Orlando Regional Winners and Impact Award) that will be added to S.P.A.M.'s STEM Robotics Center.

S.P.A.M. Robotics is making history! The 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season is off to an incredible start, and we couldn’t be more excited!

We’re thrilled to announce that FRC 180 S.P.A.M. Robotics had a double triumph at the Orlando Regional on March 19–22, 2025, winning both the regional and the prestigious FIRST Impact Award—the highest honor for community outreach in FIRST. And as the cherry on top? S.P.A.M. Robotics is currently ranked #1 worldwide on the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition Regional Rankings as of March 24, 2025!

Both wins automatically qualify us for the 2025 FIRST Championship in Houston, TX, from April 16–19. We’re ready to make Martin County proud on the global stage!

S.P.A.M. received the trophy for winning the Orlando Regional.

Isabella Bodea, who presented Impact at Orlando, is emotional as she received the Impact Award trophy.

Orlando Regional Winners – Our First Win of 2025

At the Orlando Regional, held at Addition Financial Arena at the University of Central Florida, our team, alongside our amazing alliance partners FRC 179 (Children of the Swamp) and FRC 2152 (SMASH), dominated the REEFSCAPE game presented by Haas. We secured our first regional win of the season, setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable year. A staple event since 1999, the Orlando Regional hosted 50 teams from Florida and international competitors from Santo Domingo, Panama, and beyond. Our victory against such a competitive field is a testament to our dedication, teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism®.

This year’s challenge, REEFSCAPE, tasked teams with using engineering skills to protect and strengthen one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats. Living up to our S.P.A.M. acronym—Speed, Power, and Maneuverability—our robot performed flawlessly. As regional winners, we’ve earned an automatic invitation to the FIRST Championship, where over 600 teams will compete for global honors!

S.P.A.M. pose while introduced before a final match.

FIRST Impact Award – A Second Path to the Championship

Isabella Bodea, who presented S.P.A.M.'s Impact in the community, was emotional as she received the Impact Award trophy on behalf of S.P.A.M. at the Orlando Regional.

FIRST Impact Award – A Second Path to the Championship

Winning the FIRST Impact Award at our first event of the season is a defining moment for S.P.A.M. Robotics. The Impact Award (formerly the Chairman’s Award) is the most prestigious honor in FIRST, recognizing the team that best embodies FIRST’s mission to inspire respect for science and technology.

This award reflects our 27-year legacy of STEM outreach in Martin County, FL. Highlights of our efforts this season include:

✅ Hosting Florida’s largest LEGO Robotics camps (145 kids in 3 years)

✅ Logging 2,000+ student outreach hours with 100+ demos at events like the Stuart Airshow & Martin County Fair

✅ Opening our new 6,500 sq. ft. S.P.A.M. Robotics STEM Center in December 2023, a hub for 34 FTC, FLL, and FLL Explore teams

✅ Mentoring 11 FLL teams in local schools and assisting FIRST teams

✅ Sharing our S.P.A.Malytics scouting system (1,077 clicks on ChiefDelphi), helping teams nationwide elevate their strategy

We’re also committed to inclusion and mentorship, doubling female participation and uniting students from five public high schools, private schools, and homeschoolers. With a 77% student volunteer rate at FIRST events and five Dean’s List Finalists (including one Championship Dean’s List Winner), we continue to set the standard for leadership and excellence in FIRST.

Winning the Impact Award also makes us eligible to compete for the Global FIRST Impact Award at the FIRST Championship—an incredible honor that puts Martin County on the world stage!

#1 in the World – A Testament to Our Momentum

As of March 24, 2025, S.P.A.M. Robotics holds the #1 spot in the world on the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition Regional Rankings!

This ranking determined using the system outlined in Section 12 of the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition Game Manual, reflects our outstanding performance at the Orlando Regional. With two automatic Championship qualifications already secured, this top ranking underscores our momentum as we head into the next phase of the season.

A Journey Fueled by Community Support

None of these achievements would be possible without our incredible mentors, sponsors, and supporters. A special thank you to:

💙 Martin County School District,

💙 Quanta Services,

💙 Chemplex Industries Inc.,

💙 Elatec RFID Systems,

💙 Pike Renewables & Pike Telecomm,

💙 and our other sponsors,

💙 Our dedicated mentors, board members, alumni, and parents.

Join Us on the Road to the FIRST Championship

With two automatic bids to the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX, from April 16–19, we’re ready to compete against the best in the world. We invite YOU to be part of this journey!

📲 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for updates.

🙌 Want to support the team? Become a mentor or sponsor—email us at frcteam180@gmail.com to get involved!

Together, we’re building robots, shaping futures, and making waves in STEM—let’s go, S.P.A.M. Robotics! 🚀💙