Twenty-four high school FIRSTⓇ (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition teams participated in the 13th Annual Kenneth R. Vessey Jr. Invitational, which was held at Half Hollow Hills High School West on October 26. The Invitational was presented by the Half Hollow Hills School District, with support from FIRST Long Island.
Formerly known as the Half Hollow Hills Invitational, the tournament has since been renamed in memory of Mr. Vessey. He volunteered as a UL Safety Advisor with FIRST Robotics, and was a mentor of a highly successful Robotics Team. He had a passion for teaching and guiding students into the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), combined with his knowledge in all safety-related fields. In 2024, Mr. Vessey passed away at the age of 58.
During the event, students and coaches took part in an exciting and engaging learning environment that enhanced problem-solving skills, cooperation and teamwork. Participating teams competed under the rules and guidelines of the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition challenge, dubbed REEFSCAPESM Presented by Haas, and showcased their robots that performed in the Long Island Regionals earlier this year. During the Invitational, two three-team alliances brought their robots to the playing field to solve a variety of problems in order to score points and win rounds.
This postseason event commemorated the end of the 2025 FRC season on Long Island. Following the Invitational, teams will start to prepare for next season, which kicks off on January 10, 2026.