It’s not every day that middle and high school students from St. Johns County go toe-to-toe with vaunted international robotics squads — and win.
But that’s exactly what the feisty Gadgeteers of SJC did at the 2025 FIRST Robotics Orlando Regional, turning heads and piling up points in one of the most prestigious STEM competitions in the world.
FIRST Robotics is often called the “Super Bowl of STEM,” and this year’s event, held at the University of Central Florida, featured teams from across the U.S. and as far away as Israel and Panama.
Amid the mascots, high-energy music, and cheering crowds, one underdog team from Northeast Florida stood out.
“Our kids are learning things most students don’t get to touch until college,” said John Greene, founder of GEARS STEM Academy and head mentor for the team. “They’re not just building robots. They’re learning to troubleshoot, think critically, and work together under pressure.”
The Gadgeteers’ journey began in late 2023 when Greene, already running after-school STEM programs and robotics camps through GEARS, was asked by a private school to explore what it would take to join FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).
But when the school opted to limit participation to their own students, Greene decided to launch a community-based team open to all.
“It started with a conversation, then turned into this county-wide effort,” Greene recalled. “Kids from all over St. Johns wanted in. We couldn’t say no.”
With grants from the Argosy Foundation, the Department of Defense, and support from local sponsor Buma Landscaping Company, the team was off and running. Still, it wasn’t cheap.
“It costs $6,000 just to register,” Greene said. “And that doesn’t include the cost of building a real robot. Add tools, parts, travel, meals—before you know it, you’re looking at $25,000 or more.”
The team partnered with local groups to help manage funding and insurance, and students from Nease, Beachside, Pedro Menendez, Pacetti Bay Middle School, and local homeschool networks signed on. One of the team’s youngest members, a 7th-grade geometry whiz, quickly made a name for herself.
“These kids are brilliant,” Greene said. “We had one student solving Rubik’s Cubes between matches. Another was redesigning drive systems on the fly. It’s amazing.”
At the Orlando regional, the Gadgeteers competed in a game that challenged teams to place “coral” on a reef using robots. The team’s machine proved to be one of the fastest and most efficient on the floor, helping them upset two top-ten teams—including the defending champions.
“We were screaming when we won that one,” Greene laughed. “I think there were actual tears. Nobody expected us to go that far—not even us.”
In one match, the team contributed a massive 88 out of 230 total points, earning them a spot in the playoffs and ultimately helping them reach the finals. During the alliance selection—an NFL draft-style ceremony where top teams pick their playoff partners—the Gadgeteers were called up.
“You should’ve heard the screams when we were picked. It was like winning the lottery,” Greene said.
But Greene emphasizes that the impact goes beyond trophies and rankings. The program includes lessons on AI ethics, machine learning, and how to responsibly develop emerging technologies.
“If we don’t teach these kids to master AI now, they’ll be the ones hurt by it later,” Greene said. “We need leaders who understand how to use tech responsibly—not fear it.”
Looking ahead, the Gadgeteers are already planning for next season—raising funds, recruiting new members, and setting their sights even higher.
“This isn’t just robotics,” Greene said. “It’s athletics of the mind—and we’re just getting started.”
