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SCORE’s Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence supports experiential STEM learning for students across Alabama.
Students work on their robot at their pit table between matches.

Students work together at a table assembling a VEX robot while an adult observes and offers guidance during a robotics program.

Elementary and middle school students from across central Alabama showcased their engineering and teamwork skills during the 2026 Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence Robotics Tournament held Jan. 22–23 at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Training Center in Montgomery.

The tournaments were made possible through an ongoing partnership among Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, local school systems and Auburn University’s Southeastern Center of Robotics Education, which supports robotics education and teacher training throughout the region. HIRE is a collaborative initiative launched in 2020 by SCORE, HMMA and Montgomery Public Schools to introduce students to competitive robotics. The program expanded to Autauga County Schools in 2023 and Selma City Schools in 2024 as part of its mission to provide hands-on STEM opportunities across the region.

The first competition, held Thursday, Jan. 22, featured 25 teams from Autauga County Schools and Selma City Schools. A second tournament on Friday, Jan. 23, welcomed 19 teams from Montgomery Public Schools.

“We invest in learning because we feel that preparing our students for their future isn’t just on the shoulders of teachers and school systems,” said Scott Posey, manager of public relations at HMMA. “We need to do our part as well, hoping that when they’re ready to start their career, they’ll pick one of the many exciting ones that HMMA has to offer.”

Middle school students sit attentively in rows during a SCORE robotics event, with several wearing safety vests and team shirts

Students listen during the opening ceremonies and event meeting.

Teams competed using VEX robotics systems in a series of matches that tested robot design, driving skills and strategic problem-solving. This season’s game required teams to stack different colored pins to score points. For many students, the tournament provided an opportunity to apply classroom STEM concepts, collaborate under pressure and learn by observing peers from other schools.

Throughout the event, students demonstrated technical ability as well as professionalism and sportsmanship. Coaches emphasized teamwork, perseverance and respectful competition as teams worked to improve robot performance between matches.

“We’re the next generation and the world depends on how we move and how we’re doing things,” said Amber Edwards, a student at McKee Middle School and participant in the competition.

Through the HIRE initiative and its partnership with SCORE, hundreds of students and educators gain access each year to hands-on robotics education designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics pathways aligned with Alabama’s future workforce needs.

Programs such as HIRE reflect COSAM’s and SCORE’s ongoing commitment to outreach, experiential learning and K–12 STEM engagement, extending Auburn University’s impact well beyond its campus.