Please see the article below that was submitted by Huntsville High School (HHS) Hoya Robotics Team 4152:
This past weekend Hoya Robotics, Team 4152 competed in the North Bay District event for First Robotics. After 12 qualification matches they were placed in third place and qualified for the playoffs. During the playoffs their alliance of teams 5409 from Oakville and 3756 from London made it to the finals where they faced off against the alliance of former World Champion 610 from Toronto; 4946 winners of the Newmarket event from Bolton, and 6987 from Fenelon Falls Secondary School. In addition Hoya Robotics also won the Industrial Design Award for the quality of their robot and the effectiveness of their manufacturing processes. Sam Topps, an alumni and current mentor of the team, was also recognized as the Woodie Flowers Nominee. This award recognizes an individual who has done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging the students to be clear and succinct in their communications.
First Robotics is a global organization dedicated to inspiring generations of global citizens and helping them realize their power to build a better future. The FIRST Robotics Competition introduced the 2025 game “Reefscape” on January 4. Teams then had six weeks to design and build a robot to compete in the game. Visit the First Robotics website for more information.
One of the greatest benefits of the program is the collaboration with local industry. This past year MBRP, Seal For Life, Kimberly-Clark, Blackburn Industrial, and Panol-am have all provided students with opportunities to learn about their manufacturing processes and Hoya Robotics has become a leader in Ontario. They’ve provided opportunities for students and shown the amazing career opportunities that exist right here in Huntsville.
Hoya Robotics is a leader in Ontario for promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Their workshops and resources are accessed by teams across Canada and the world with teams from China, Brazil, and England using their programming textbook! They were also featured in a textbook from Pearson Education.
Students not currently in high school have benefited from the programs that Hoya Robotics provides. From First Lego League teams, to TechnoGirls, these programs have provided a stepping stone for students. Three of the Grade 12 female students on the team will be attending engineering programs in university this fall. They credit their time on Hoya Robotics with inspiring their education plans.
April 2-5 is when Team 4152 will be competing in the Ontario District Championship. Due to the financial stress that their supporters will be under because of tariffs, the team has made the difficult decision to not attend the World Championship if they qualify and reinvest in their program for the future.
If you would like to support Hoya Robotics to help them reach the Provincial Championships, and to support the scholarships that they provide students, please donate to the team’s Canada Helps page by selecting HHS – Robotics Team.
About Hoya Robotics, Team 4152
Hoya Robotics was founded in 2012 by Ian McTavish, a teacher at HHS. Hoya Robotics helped found teams in Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Fenelon Fall, and Lindsay. The team has won multiple awards and is a former Ontario District Championship Team. McTavish can be reached by email at [email protected].
