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Calgary Community Robotics Team 9449 YellowJackets Wins FIRST Impact Award and Reaches Semifinals at Idaho Regional, Qualifies for World Championship

  • Writer: Kaitlin Serpa
    Kaitlin Serpa
  • Mar 29
  • 3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago



FRC Team 9449 YellowJackets had an unforgettable weekend at the 2026 FIRST®  Robotics Competition Idaho Regional. The team brought home the prestigious FIRST®  Impact Award and powered their way to the semifinals with an exciting playoff run, a fantastic achievement both on and off the field.


As one of Calgary’s only true community robotics teams, the YellowJackets are not tied to any single school, though they have been graciously given accesss to Renert School in Calgary as a build space. Run by the non-profit Alberta Robotics Association (ARA), our program is open and inclusive to students from all backgrounds, schools, and communities. We work hard to keep participation affordable so that any student can experience the power of robotics, engineering, and teamwork.


A Historic Win for Alberta Robotics


The FIRST® Impact Award is the highest honor at a FIRST event. It recognizes the team that best embodies FIRST’s core values through outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, community outreach, and inspiration in STEM. This win is especially meaningful for Alberta:

  • It is only the second time an award at this level has been earned by an Alberta team in FIRST Alberta history. The first was in 2020 by Team 7277 Mandela United Squadron from Nelson Mandela High School during the remote season.

  • It is the first time an Alberta team has won the FIRST®  Impact Award at an event outside of Canada.


These accomplishments highlight what a dedicated community team can achieve when mentors, volunteers, parents, and students come together.


Strong On-Field Performance


In the REBUILT™ presented by Haas game, the YellowJackets built a competitive robot that performed impressively throughout qualifications and delivered an amazing run through the elimination bracket all the way to the semifinals. Their success on the field, paired with exceptional outreach and team culture, earned them both the Impact Award and a coveted qualification spot to the FIRST®  Championship.


Next Stop: Houston. Competing Among the Best


The team now advances to the FIRST® Championship in Houston, Texas, from April 29 to May 2, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. There, they will compete against approximately 600 of the top FRC teams from around the world, including many other regional Impact Award winners. This global stage is an incredible opportunity for our students to learn, compete, and represent Calgary and Alberta on an international level.



Help Send the YellowJackets to Worlds

Attending the Championship is a life-changing experience, but travel, accommodation, and related costs are significant. As a community non-profit team, we rely on the support of sponsors, donors, and the Alberta community to keep this opportunity affordable for all our students.


Every donation makes a difference. Your support helps remove financial barriers and allows more young people to participate fully in this transformative program.


Ways to Help:


Impact Video Submission




About the Alberta Robotics Association

The Alberta Robotics Association is a registered non-profit dedicated to expanding access to robotics and STEM education across Alberta. Through community teams like the YellowJackets, we remove barriers so any student can build skills in engineering, coding, design, teamwork, and leadership.


About FIRST® 

FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future. FIRST provides life-changing, team-based K-12 robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, donors, and sponsors, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. 


An international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.


Thank you for your support, together we’re building the next generation of innovators!

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