ALPHARETTA, GA, September 25, 2026: Students, parents, educators and community leaders gathered at Alpharetta City Hall on September 19 for “Building Georgia’s Future — One Robot at a Time,” a community event showcasing robotics, technology education and young innovators.
The event was organized by the Arcturus Robotics teams at STREM HQ Tech Academy. Arcturus Robotics participates in FIRST Tech Challenge competitions at the state, national and international levels.
Students from Team Arcturus demonstrated their robots and invited attendees to take the controls and experience robotics firsthand. Throughout the morning, students, families, educators and guests exchanged ideas in a hands-on environment centered on technology and innovation.
Arcturus Student Innovators
Vikram Nadkarni, captain of Arcturus Apollo; Advaith Shankaran, vice captain of Arcturus Apollo; Jahnavi Mohan, vice captain of Arcturus Artemis; and Kellen Bhatt, business director of Arcturus Artemis, spoke about the impact robotics has had on their lives.
The students said their involvement with the Arcturus Robotics teams at STREM HQ Tech Academy has helped them develop skills in coding, CAD design, programming, problem-solving, welding, teamwork, public speaking and community outreach. They also spoke about how the experience has influenced their college and career plans.
Both teams have competed at the state level, while Arcturus Artemis advanced to the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston, Texas. Arcturus Apollo was the only team selected to represent Georgia in the inaugural Governor’s Cup.
Learning From Failure and Thinking Bigger
U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick spoke about innovation, perseverance and problem-solving, encouraging the young innovators not to allow failure to stop them from pursuing their goals. He urged them to try, learn from mistakes, improve and try again — a process familiar in robotics, where designing, testing, failing and rebuilding are all part of learning.
Georgia State Sen. Shawn Still challenged the students to imagine how many inventions, and perhaps patents, they might create in the future. He emphasized using education and innovation not only for personal achievement but also to contribute to their communities and America’s technological future.
Fulton County Board of Education President Kristin McCabe expressed enthusiasm for the robotics program and the students’ passion for innovation. She recognized their competitive achievements while emphasizing the importance of providing young people with meaningful STEM opportunities.
Forsyth County Board of Education Chairman Mike Valdes encouraged students to make full use of today’s advanced equipment, tools and technology and to continue challenging themselves to build increasingly creative machines.
Building More Than Robots
A highlight of the morning was the interaction between students and attendees. Students explained their designs, guests drove the robots, and young engineers demonstrated their creations to community leaders.
Organizers said robotics education goes beyond engineering and coding, helping students develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving, resilience and confidence.
The event highlighted the growing role of hands-on STEM education in preparing Georgia students for future opportunities in technology, engineering and innovation.
