Preston Golson
MUMZ Photography
Adventist Robotics hosted its inaugural Carolina Explore Festival on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Carolina Adventist Academy (CAA) in Whiteville, North Carolina.
The Explore Festival gives students an opportunity to showcase their team’s journey, mission models, and robot in front of judges and spectators. The FIRST Explore program is offered to students in grades 2-4, and introduces them to problem solving, critical thinking, and team building skills. Fun, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, Discovery, Innovation — these are the core values that embody FIRST Robotics.
Students are guided by their coach/mentor to discover how to solve challenges as a team. The Carolina Explore Festival had five teams hailing from North Carolina and Virginia.
The theme for the 2024-2025 season was “Submerged.” Students, coaches, and mentors experienced a journey of aquatic adventure. The judges provided great feedback for teams that will help improve their skills for the next event. Students, coaches, mentors, parents, and stakeholders were able to interact with students from other Adventist schools, and make new friends.
The Festival promoted collaboration and gracious professionalism among the teams and coaches. In between judging sessions, students were engaged in team building activities led by Angela Jones, principal at Calvary Adventist School in Newport News, Virginia.
During the culmination of the entire event, the host school launched their Pentecost 2025 campaign on January 18, 2025, with a grand celebration of International Day of Education at Praise Tabernacle in Whiteville, North Carolina. The host school and constituent members had a parade of nations and international cuisine for lunch.
Many were blessed by Georges Fleurimond, pastor of First University Church in Tampa, Florida, and guest speaker. He reminded all about the value of Adventist education. Prior to the Festival, students from the various schools went on a field trip to Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on January 16, 2025. After an amazing tour of the aquarium, everyone enjoyed a presentation about different sea creatures. All enjoyed a fellowship lunch at Golden Corral. The following schools are thanked for their dedication which made the weekend possible: Berean Junior Academy, Sumter, South Carolina; Calvary Adventist School, Newport News, Virginia; Carolina Adventist Academy, Whiteville, North Carolina; and Vienna Adventist Academy, Vienna, Virginia.
For more information about Adventist Robotics and how to start a team, please visit the website at www.adventistrobotics.net.
South Atlantic | April 2025
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