A Mission to Take Flight
For many students at Brockton High School, access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) opportunities are often limited. The challenges of securing adequate mentorship, technological resources, and consistent funding create barriers that make it difficult for these students to compete. But in 2024 Brockton High School’s Aerospace Robotics Competition (ARC) team proved that with dedication and the right support, students can soar—literally and figuratively.
The Power of Opportunity
The Aerospace Robotics Competition (ARC) is an annual design-build-fly competition which challenges students to build autonomous and semi-autonomous drones, requiring a deep understanding of engineering principles, teamwork, and perseverance.
Since 2022, Brockton High School has sent teams to the ARC competition, despite significant challenges. In previous years, lack of resources and infrastructure meant that the teams were often assembling drones at the last minute. However, the 2024 season was different. For the first time, Brockton’s teams arrived at competition day with fully functional, competition-ready drones. This milestone was made possible through the dedicated mentorship from Lincoln Laboratory professionals and the financial support provided by the MIT CSF grant.
Each week, mentors dedicated three-hour sessions on weekends, often putting in extra hours in the lead-up to competition week, to support the students working diligently to design, build, and test their drones.
A Competition to Remember
The 2024 ARC competition was a defining moment for Brockton High’s teams. Two teams made it to the regional competition, and one team qualified for the first-ever ARC Nationals in June.
At the competition, the Brockton JV team ranked third overall—a significant accomplishment given the fierce competition from more well-funded schools. Even more impressively, the JV team was the only team to achieve a direct hit in the autonomous flight payload drop—a testament to their skill, preparation, and determination.
Brockton’s Varsity Team also made waves, winning the Sportsmanship Award after stepping in to help another team that was struggling with their drone’s radio synchronization. The camaraderie and leadership shown by Brockton’s students were recognized by their peers and the competition organizers alike.
A Lasting Impact on Students
Beyond competition rankings, the true success of the ARC program lies in its impact on students’ futures. Every senior on the team plans to pursue engineering in college, with five students already accepted into institutions such as UMass Lowell, Embry-Riddle, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Two students have also expressed their intent to intern at MIT Lincoln Laboratory during their college years.
The Brockton High ARC program is more than just a robotics team—it is a gateway to opportunity for students who might not otherwise have access to high-quality STEM education. The program has proven that with the right support, mentorship, and funding, students can achieve extraordinary things