For the Paola Unified School District 368 robotics team, it is about more than just building robots. 

“I really love this program because of the emphasis on growing the whole person,” said Mary Ure, one of the mentors of Team 1108 Panther Robotics, at the August Kansas State Board of Education meeting. “We’re making robots, yes, but we are making citizens who will be productive, inspiring to others, kind, considerate and ready for the workforce.” 

Ure said the students develop soft skills such as effectively communicating with others. Students do not have to be interested in engineering or building things to participate. They can explore other interests by helping with accounting, media or fundraising.  

One hundred percent of former Team 1108 members have graduated and gone into STEM-related careers, with more than 60% choosing engineering careers. 

The team works beyond the school year, doing community outreach activities throughout the summer months to raise funds and help out the community. 

This summer, the team was recognized for being the runner-up for the Community Impact Award, which is part of the Optimum Innovator Awards. The award honored the team for designing, constructing and installing multiple pieces of agility equipment at the local dog park, including a custom wheelchair for a dog who lost her back legs in an accident. 

Team 1108 receives funds from the school district, but they also rely on community partnerships for grants and sponsorships. 

“It is just such a reciprocal relationship,” Ure said. “We help out our community and in turn our community helps us out.” 

Last school year, they won the Colorado Regional robotics competition, which earned them an invitation to the World Championships in Houston. 

“We had to raise a great deal of money in order for our team to travel to Houston,” Ure said. “We only had just a few weeks to raise it, but our community came through.” 

They raised more than $30,000 in just two weeks. 

“For a community of our size, that just speaks volumes,” said USD 368 Superintendent Matt Meek. 

Panther Robotics also volunteers in community events such as Cops Night Out, local quilt shows, parades and more. 

The 2024-2025 school year marks the team’s 23rd season in the international FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics program. 

Among their many accomplishments, since 2003, the team has won: 

• A Championship Rookie All-Star Award 
• Nine of the Regional Impact/Chairman’s Awards 
• Three Regional Competitions 

The team has qualified for the championship competition 10 times in the past 22 seasons. 

This year alone, the team won the following competitions. 

• Colorado Regional – Regional Champions 
• Greater Kansas City Regional – Regional Impact Award 
• Dean’s List Finalist 
• Regional Woody Flowers Finalist Award 
• World Championship Daly Field 

The next competition season begins in January, but the team is already hard at work. A day after presenting at the State Board meeting, they set up a booth at Paola High School’s freshman/new student orientation to recruit new members. 

You can read more about Panther Robotics here.