BLAST Robotics Brings Nix and Hands-On STEM to Tredyffrin Community Day

On October 3, BLAST Robotics brought robotics, engineering, and student mentorship to Tredyffrin Township Community Day at Wilson Farm Park, giving children and families a chance to operate small robots, meet the team, and see Nix, our new competition robot, up close.

Students as Teachers

Student leaders Virat Ponugoti, Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti, Lemuel Xu, Mayon Saha, Raahil, Prithvi, Ethan, Ashwin, and Eshwara guided visitors through hands-on activities, answered questions about the team’s work, and helped children of all ages interact with robotics technology throughout the day.

Community events like this give our students something just as valuable as competition experience. Beyond building robots, they practice communication, leadership, and mentoring, sharing what they have learned about engineering and technology with the next generation of learners.

Nix Draws a Crowd

The centerpiece of the day was Nix, the robot FRC Team 10989 is preparing for the upcoming RampRiot competition. Demonstrations showed visitors how BLAST students bring together design, programming, fabrication, and teamwork to develop a competition-ready robot. For many families, it was their first close look at what a FIRST Robotics Competition team actually builds.

State Rep. Shusterman Stops By

Pennsylvania State Representative Melissa Shusterman visited the BLAST exhibit, speaking directly with students about their robotics projects and community outreach work. Shusterman expressed appreciation for the students’ community service and their focus on artificial intelligence and robotics as young people prepare for a rapidly changing workforce. The visit gave team members a chance to demonstrate their work and discuss how hands-on learning helps students develop real technical skills and explore potential careers.

Our Mission in Action

Keystone STEM Alliance operates under the mission “Ignite. Inspire. Impact.” Events like Tredyffrin Community Day are where that mission becomes real. Our Berwyn workshop supports practical learning in robotics, programming, electronics, and fabrication, and community outreach brings those experiences directly to families who might not otherwise encounter them.

We are grateful to Tredyffrin Township, our student leaders, parents, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who made this possible.