GLEN BURNIE — North County High School’s Cyber Knights robotics team capped an impressive season with a top-50 finish at the VEX V5 World Robotics Championships in St. Louis last week, showcasing engineering excellence and teamwork on an international stage.
Competing against the world’s best, the Cyber Knights designed, built and programmed custom robots to navigate complex challenges through strategy, precision driving and autonomous operation. Students wrote intricate code that enabled their robots to use sensors and logic to score points independently, demonstrating the full range of skills honed throughout the season.
Only about 1 percent of the more than 70,000 high school robotics teams worldwide qualify for the championships. This year, 850 teams advanced, representing all 50 states and 43 countries. Maryland sent 10 teams to the event, with North County High School as the sole representative from Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
“Our students were competitive, learned a lot, made new friends and left with incredible memories,” said Cyber Knights coach Josh Jack, CTE Department Chair at North County. “They are impressive representatives of North County High School and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.”
The competition tested participants in multiple areas, from mechanical design and construction to programming and on-the-spot problem solving. The Cyber Knights’ strong performance highlights the growing strength of STEM education programs in Maryland public schools and the dedication required to reach elite levels.
Team members include seniors Zach Labib, Francisco Vasquez-Sanchez, Rohan Indukuri, Ava Karopchinsky and Aadil Amatya, along with junior Shadeed Farooq. In addition to Jack, the team is coached by North County CTE teacher Ned Sherman.
Reaching the world stage required months of preparation, countless hours of design iteration, testing and refinement. The experience not only sharpened technical abilities but also built lifelong skills in collaboration, resilience and innovation — qualities valued in Maryland’s growing technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.
While the championships took place far from home, the achievement resonates across the state. For students in Anne Arundel County and beyond, it serves as inspiration that local talent can compete successfully against global competition. Robotics programs like the Cyber Knights help prepare young people for careers in engineering, computer science and related fields that drive Maryland’s economy.
The top-50 finish marks a significant milestone for the North County program and underscores the value of career and technical education in developing the next generation of problem solvers. School officials expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments and their role as ambassadors for the county’s public schools.
As the 2025-2026 school year concludes, the Cyber Knights return with new knowledge, international connections and memories that will fuel future pursuits. Their success demonstrates what focused effort and school support can achieve when students are given opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges.
