A new chapter in STEM excellence has been written at Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, Bergen County.
According to the district, the BECTOBOTS, Becton’s rising-star robotics team, qualified for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship in Houston, Texas during the April spring break—a first in school history and a defining moment for the district’s future-ready STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) movement, said district superintendent Dr. Dario Sforza.
The BECTOBOTS have evolved into a regional powerhouse, recently crowned FTC New Jersey Regional Champions and standout competitors at the FTC State Championship.
“This is what happens when you combine purpose, passion, and the scientific process,” said Dr. Sforza, superintendent and former STEM supervisor and teacher. “We’re not just teaching STEM, we’re transforming lives and building futures.”
After the competition, Dr. Sforza said, “I’m excited to share that our BECTOBOTS Robotics Engineering Team has just returned from Houston, and while we didn’t come home with the international trophy, what we gained was even more powerful — an experience of a lifetime.
“Surrounded by tens of thousands of student innovators from around the world, our team proudly represented Becton Regional High School and the state of New Jersey with passion, perseverance, and pride,” Dr. Sforza said. “This was more than just a competition, it was a defining moment for our students, especially our majority-female team who broke barriers, challenged stereotypes, and became role models for future generations of STEM learners.”
What started as “the little engine that could” has sparked a much larger movement across our school district, Dr. Sforza explained, adding that robotics has become a catalyst for expanding STEM at Becton Regional High School.
He credited the following people with contributing to the Bectobots’ success:
- James Bononno, principal
- Robert DiDomenico, district supervisor of curriculum, instruction & STEM
- Elisabeth Mackanin, robotics advisor/coach and science teacher
- Jonna Calvanico, district supervisor of personnel
“We’re growing not only our engineering and computer science programs, but also our course offerings in AP sciences, enriched math, forensics, environmental science, and hands-on STEM-focused internships. These are more than programs,” Dr. Sforza said. “They’re pathways to careers in AI, aerospace, biomedical science, architecture, sustainability, and more.”
‘Bectobot’ Students Return from World Championship Competition
Members of the Becton Regional High School robotics team, shown in the photos below, recently returned from a World Championship tournament in Houston, Texas. Although they didn’t win the top international prize, Becton students had the “experience of a lifetime” competing with thousands other student contestants, said Dr. Dario Sforza, Becton superintendent. Photos provided by Becton Regional High School.
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