Reboot Robotics Monthly Newsletter – January 2026 Edition
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Happy New Year from all of us at Reboot Robotics! We’re so glad to be back after a wonderful Christmas break and grateful to have everyone rested, healthy, and ready for an exciting season ahead.
As we’ve stepped into the new year, our Nuclear Space Potatoes have jumped right back into the action. Their FTC SW League Tournament is happening this Saturday at Drury University, this is the moment they’ve been preparing for since the season kickoff back in September! We can’t wait to see our students put their skills, teamwork, and perseverance to the test.
We also hope our community has been enjoying our STEM Labs. Thank you to the families who attend and for your understanding this month when we needed to cancel due to illness going around. We’re looking forward to seeing all your wonderful faces again in February!
Thank you for being part of our Reboot Robotics community—we can’t wait to see what this year brings.
With gratitude,
Nicole Neeld
Founder & CEO, Reboot Robotics
Team Highlights
While our FLL season has wrapped up, there’s still exciting work happening behind the scenes! We’re currently finalizing updates to our FLL Team Handbook and preparing to open registration for the 2026/2027 season in the near future. Stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to welcome new and returning students for another great season!
This month, FIRST also announced upcoming changes to the FLL robot kit and elements of competition play. These updates will be fully implemented during the 2028/2029 season. While we still have two seasons before the transition is required, we are already exploring what these changes could mean for our team and are considering introducing elements as early as this next season alongside the current program.
January has been an exciting month for our FTC team! On January 10th, we had the honor of hosting our first FTC Meet at Southwest Baptist University! It was a fantastic day of competition. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Gichamba and SBU for opening their doors to us and providing such an excellent facility that helped make the event a success.
The Nuclear Space Potatoes finished the day in 3rd place and are now sitting 5th in a league of 14 teams. With momentum building, we’re excited to see what this Saturday’s League Tournament has in store!
Upcoming Events
🤖 FIRST Tech Challenge SW League Tournament
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 11:30am-5:00pm
Location: Drury University - O'Reilly Family Event Center
900 N Benton Ave, Springfield, MO
Details: Our Nuclear Space Potatoes will be participating in their League Tournament. Please join us for an exciting day of robotics! This is the big event we’ve been preparing for. Teams will compete in action-packed matches, putting their robots and strategies to the test. Cheer on the teams, enjoy the energy of competition, and see which teams advance to the playoffs and beyond to the next level of competition. All FIRST events are free and open to the public, come support student innovation and teamwork!
🎉 STEM Lab – DNA Models
Date: Monday, February 9
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Cost: $5 per participant
Location: 2801 W Broadway Street, Bolivar, MO
Details: Join us for our next Reboot Robotics STEM Lab as we explore the building blocks of life! Students will create hands-on DNA models while learning about genetics, structure, and how DNA carries information in living things. This interactive activity encourages problem-solving, creativity, and scientific thinking in a fun, engaging environment. Space is limited, so registration is required. To reserve your spot go to https://www.rebootrobotics.org/event-list. This is a great opportunity for all students to build, test, and learn in a fun, interactive environment!
🤖 FIRST Tech Challenge West Super Qualifier
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 11:00am-5:00pm
Location: East Trails Middle School 1001 SE Bailey Rd, Lee's Summit, MO
Details: The West Super Qualifier is an exciting, high-level FIRST Tech Challenge event where top teams from across the region compete for a chance to advance to the next level of competition. Teams will put months of hard work to the test through matches, strategy, and collaboration. All FIRST events are free and open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to attend! Come cheer on the teams, experience the energy of competitive robotics, and celebrate student innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We’re thrilled to recognize Osceola Higgins Propane as a Silver Level Sponsor! Their support helps provide our students with hands-on STEM experiences and access to the tools and resources they need to explore robotics and innovation. We’re proud to have Osceola Higgins Propane as part of the Reboot Robotics community and deeply appreciate their commitment to inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators.
Favorite Moments This Month
Support Reboot Robotics
We only have a couple more months of our program year and are still $1,000 short of being fully funded. Would you consider donating to help us meet our goal? Every donation matters and helps us provide meaningful STEM opportunities, hands-on robotics experiences, and mentorship for our students.
For those who have donated and supported us, thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the next generation of engineers and innovators!
Want to help us keep growing?
That’s a Wrap!
As we look ahead, all eyes are on this weekend’s FTC League Tournament as we find out whether our Nuclear Space Potatoes advance beyond this weekend’s tournament or wrap up their season. No matter the outcome, there’s so much to celebrate and even more to look forward to.
As always, we’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us grow, so feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, or questions.
Until next time, keep building, exploring, and dreaming big with us!
📧 Contact us: info@rebootrobotics.org
