Heritage Christian Academy FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Team Advances to World Championship for First Time in School History

Only Johnson County, KS school to qualify; team to compete among 66 countries worldwide

OLATHE, KS / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2026 /Heritage Christian Academy 's high school robotics team has qualified for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship for the first time in school history following a record-setting performance at the Missouri/Kansas State Tournament.

The Chargers Robotics team, the only team from Johnson County to qualify, will join Team Stealth from Piper High School in representing Kansas City at the World Championship in late April. The team will travel with 10 students to Houston, Texas, to compete against top teams from 66 countries.

At the MO/KS State Tournament on March 7, the team earned a place on the winning alliance, received the Reach Award, and set a new regional single-match points record-breaking their own previous record. Their performance secured advancement to the FTC World Championship, joining an elite group of 336 teams out of more than 8,500 competitors.

"This accomplishment reflects not only the students ' technical skill, but their perseverance, teamwork, and commitment to excellence, " said Dr. Ben Hummel, Head of School at Heritage Christian Academy. "We are grateful to see them using their gifts to pursue meaningful work and represent HCA with integrity on a global stage. "

The team is led by Steve Adams, Director of STEM Education at Heritage Christian Academy, who is in his 50th year of teaching. His leadership has helped shape a program that emphasizes both technical excellence and purposeful learning.

"Watching students grow in confidence as they solve complex problems and work together toward a shared goal is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching, " Adams said. "This opportunity to compete on a global stage is a reflection of their hard work and dedication. "

The FTC World Championship brings together elite robotics teams from around the globe to compete, collaborate, and showcase innovation in engineering and technology. Heritage Christian Academy 's qualification marks a historic milestone for the school and highlights the strength of its growing STEM program.

As the team prepares for the international competition, Heritage Christian Academy wants to invite the community to Robotapalooza on April 14 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the HCA Upper School. The event will give attendees the opportunity to see the competition robot in action, interact with team members, and even drive the robot themselves.

Robotapalooza will serve as both a send-off for the team and an opportunity to inspire the next generation of students to explore engineering, technology, and problem-solving.

About Heritage Christian Academy
Heritage Christian Academy is a K-12 private Christian school in Johnson County, Kansas, serving 655 students and committed to partnering with families to provide a Christ-centered education marked by academic excellence, spiritual formation, and a vibrant school community.

Contact
Steve Adams
HCA STEM Director
Heritage Christian Academy
steve.adams@hcakc.org | 913-782-3262
https://www.hcakc.org/
https://www.facebook.com/hcakansas
https://www.instagram.com/hcakansas

SOURCE:Heritage Christian Academy

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