Great Neck South High Robotics Team #2638, known as Rebel Robotics, won a team award and finished in second place overall at the FIRST Rocket City Regional in Huntsville, Alabama, on April 9. Based on the team’s outstanding performance at regional competitions, the Rebels have qualified for the 2026 FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas, later this month.

At Rocket City, the Rebels advanced to the Finals where their alliance faced fierce competition against a robotics team that’s ranked eighth in the world. Team #2638 rose to the challenge on the playing field and earned a second-place finish. Additionally, Rebel Robotics was presented with the Excellence in Engineering Award—which they also won at the SBPLI Regional in March.

Students enjoyed exciting moments outside of the competition as well, like watching the Artemis II crew’s historic landing from the city that’s home to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and visiting our nation’s capital on the return trip to New York.

Faculty advisors for Rebel Robotics Team #2638 are John Motchkavitz, South High business/technology department chair, and Matthew Corrigan, business/technology teacher.