The Lamar DiscoBots, founded in 2007, have grown from a small group in a chemistry closet to a prominent force in the robotics world. Today, they operate with state-of-the-art facilities and have become a force to be reckoned with, focusing on both competition and community outreach.
The club’s mission is twofold: to excel in competitions and inspire other students to join their cause to spread STEM knowledge and opportunities to other people. Members meet twice a week to mentor peers, build and program robots, all the while expanding their educational initiatives.
Their commitment to innovation sets them apart as they actively share their love for success in and out of the club. The DiscoBots have a strong competition record, qualifying for national events three years in a row. The team carefully selects between the VEX Robotics Competition and the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) based on timing, robot readiness, and competitive potential. These are two different competitions where the members can choose one, the other, or both based on their personal preferences.
A key factor in their success is the club’s collaborative culture. President Guillermo Melendez stresses the importance of a positive community that fosters respect and inspires members to excel, even in challenging times. “This club is incredibly helpful for your future. The club can also be seen as a very good community because the members are nice and you will make a lot of friends,” says Melendez. “And if you like competition, you will like this club a lot.” The team also has various leadership roles, such as team leaders and officers, that help both to manage operations and support peers.
The DiscoBots have achieved 27 local awards, 1 state award, and 1 world championship title, with their most notable accomplishment being two-time winners of the national championship mega alliance. However, their influence goes beyond winning competitions. Through outreach, they’ve established robotics programs in other schools like Carnegie Vanguard High School, Westside High School, Bellaire High School, and recently DeBakey High School. They have also created educational resources and launched a YouTube channel to inspire and teach others about both building and understanding robots.
Vice President and Manufacturer Lorenzo Hernandez highlights the valuable learning experience the club offers, stating, “I think the club for me is an opportunity to learn something new and learn things in advance for our future, especially in engineering.”
In the future, the DiscoBots plan to expand their outreach globally, aiming to support international teams such as those in Japan by creating online resources to help them start their own robotics programs. The club already has teams in cities such as Houston, Dallas, California, and even countries like Canada. The team is committed to continuing to grow the robotics community both nationally and internationally.
All in all, the DiscoBots’ commitment to competition and the community has made them one of the leading robotics teams in the country. Their dedication to excellence and global outreach is both shaping and inspiring the next generation of engineers, leaving a lasting impact on the robotics world.
