UMATILLA, Ore.-Umatilla High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, 4125 Confidential, is currently competing at the Pacific Northwest District Championships.
4125 Confidential earned their spot at the PNW Championships, April 8-11 at Eastern Washington University (EWU) in Cheney, Washington, with their performances throughout the season, including being recognized for their outreach efforts and contributions to their community, according to the Umatilla School District.
“This season has really been a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students,” said mentor Kyle Sipe. “Not only on the robot, but in their understanding of what’s going on in the world and their willingness to stay involved and engaged in their community and their futures.”
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics combines sports with science and technology, allowing teams to design, build, and program a robot to compete in various challenges or games.
This season, 4125 Confidential earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the 2026 PNW District Oregon State Fair Event held March 5-7, in Salem.
Sponsored by SpaceX, the Engineering Inspiration Award recognized outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school, organization, and community.
4125 Confidential also received the FIRST Impact Award at the PNW District SunDome Event held March 19-21 in Yakima, Washington.
According to the USD, the Impact Award is FIRST’s highest honor and recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and embodies the mission of the organization, to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world.
At the PNW Championships on EWU’s Reese Court, 4125 Confidential will compete against 50 of the top high school robotics teams in the Northwest, hoping to punch their ticket to the FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas.
“It’s been an exciting season,” said Coach Sipe. “The students have faced a lot of adversity and have used that to keep pushing forward. They have three pathways to make it to the world finals, and we have really high hopes.”
A broadcast of the PNW FIRST District Championship presented by the FIRST Webcast Unit is available all three days of the tournament.
