On Sept. 12, thousands are expected to fill NRG Park for Houston's Viet Cultural Fest, featuring performances, food, competitions and community exhibits. A major attraction will feature dozens of students racing to build and test a robot in six hours.
Hosted by the Kids Robotic Foundation and Kids Robotic Academy, the competition offers a fast-paced introduction to the upcoming FIRST Tech Challenge season while allowing students to showcase more than technical skills.
How it works
The competition starts before students arrive at NRG Park. Each year, the FIRST Tech Challenge unveils a new robotics game in early September, giving teams little time to understand and plan for the challenge.
“It’s a big challenge because teams have only one week to prepare and build a robot on-site in six hours,” owner Darakhshan “Dee” Memon said.
At the end of the build, robots compete in front of judges and festival attendees, testing engineering skills, teamwork, problem-solving and creativity under pressure.
This year's event will feature about 20 selected teams. While competition spots are limited due to venue capacity, spectators are encouraged to attend and watch the action unfold.
It takes a team
While robots take center stage on competition day, organizers say success depends on more than engineering. Each team can have up to 15 students, with members in various technical and nontechnical roles.
Some students design and program the robot, while others create graphics, manage social media, build presentations for judges or lead community outreach. Teams also rely on students with writing, public speaking and leadership skills to develop portfolios, present their work and share their projects’ impact.
That collaborative approach helps break STEM stereotypes. Organizers hope students of all backgrounds—including girls, those with disabilities and those who may not see themselves as engineers—recognize that robotics offers everyone a place to learn, contribute and grow.
Beyond the competition
Organizers say robotics prepares students for college and beyond. Working in a team, participants gain hands-on experience and develop skills beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
College and scholarship credentials
Resume-building experience
Leadership and public speaking skills
Volunteer service hours
Connections with mentors and industry leaders
Hands-on STEM and problem-solving experience
Teamwork and character development through gracious professionalism
"We're providing the opportunity for growth—not just by looking, but by doing and achieving hands-on," Memon said.
Visit the full festival
The robotics competition is part of a larger celebration of Vietnamese culture and community.
Festival attendees will find cultural performances, chess competitions, lion dancers, food, community organizations and youth activities throughout the day. Robotics teams will host interactive booths for visitors to explore science demonstrations, complete hands-on activities and learn about technology.
Organizers hope the competition continues to grow, creating more opportunities for Texas students to discover robotics, develop confidence and connect with mentors.
"When you see it, you believe it," Memon said, inviting the community to experience the competition firsthand.
Get your tickets now
Interested in attending the robotics competition? Click here for details and tickets.
Purchase tickets here for the Viet Cultural Fest.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel, with the Community Impact Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
