GETTING TO KNOW THE NASA KNIGHTS

The NASA Knights are a dedicated group of students who compete in robotics challenges at the regional and national level. Building a competition robot is no small task. It takes mechanical design, programming, fabrication, and a lot of problem-solving under pressure. These are skills that map directly to careers in engineering and manufacturing.

What stood out to us right away was not just what the team builds, but how they work. They collaborate, they mentor each other, and they treat every setback as a chance to improve. That mindset is something we recognize and respect at Sumitomo.

WHY CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP IN STEM MATTERS

At Sumitomo Drive Technologies, investing in the workforce is not new territory. Our CNC Apprenticeship Program with Tidewater Community College is one example of how we work to connect people with real skills and real opportunities right here in Hampton Roads. Sponsoring the NASA Knights is an extension of that same commitment.

Students who get hands-on experience with engineering challenges early are better prepared when they enter the workforce. When young people understand how gears, drives, and mechanical systems actually work, it shows. The connection between a competition robot and an industrial gearbox may not be obvious at first, but the fundamentals are the same: load requirements, torque, speed, and precision. These students are already thinking about it.

Corporate partnerships give teams like the NASA Knights access to industry knowledge, mentorship, and resources that help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. That gap matters. And helping close it is something we take seriously.

LOOKING AHEAD 

We will be following the NASA Knights throughout their competition season and look forward to sharing updates on their progress. We are rooting for them and glad to play a small part in what they are building.

To the students on the team: keep going. The work you are doing now is laying a foundation that will carry you further than you know.

Happy National Robotics Week.