While it may seem like “old hat” to many of us, it is anything but for several Alpena High School students who return to the FIRST Robotics World Championship.

Alpena Team 5505, V2 Robotics, walked away from the state championship last weekend with more than enough points to quality it for the world event. It is the fourth straight year Team 5505 will compete on that stage. And, to put it into perspective, every year the team has existed, it has qualified for the world championship.

Joining it in Detroit next week will be Posen High School’s Team 6077, Wiking Kujon, which will be participating in its first World Championship.

Both teams have worked well together as V2 Robotics members have mentored many new rookie teams in schools across the region. We appreciate the attitude, enthusiasm and brain power of these young men and women. In an event where teamwork, problem solving and ingenuity are keys to success, these teams have demonstrated time and again their ability to overcome hurdles.

On behalf of all of Northeast Michigan, we wish the teams well in Detroit this next week.