SANBORN, N.Y. — Niagara County Community College's campus was buzzing Thursday morning, with the sound of whirring robotics and excited students.
It was all for the 28th Annual Tech Wars.
"We have 32 different schools here, 32-plus different schools, with over 800 kids competing in 20 different events," Starpoint Central School Distrcit Technology Teacher Adam Taber said. "Anything from CAD design to bridge building, robotics, you think of a technology we're doing it here today."
It's a way to get students interested in technology and engineering skills, but it's also fun. Michael Gorbach, a 10th grade student at Starpoint, competed in one of the robot events.
"There's so many different kinds of robots, there's so many cool ways of doing it," he said.
Students as young 12 years old represented their schools in the competition.
"I liked robotics because I did it last year in sixth grade," Arianna Ellison said.
She's in seventh grade at Gaskill Preparatory School.
"I decided I wanted to do robotics this year because I like the experience of it, and I like building stuff," Arianna said.
The students shared that one thing they've learned about robot making, is that it takes a bit of trial and error.
"Our robot did fall apart plenty of times," Gaskill seventh-grader De'Lani Miles said. "It taught us to learn how to make sure the structure is safe."
Teamwork was another big theme of the day.
"It's really fun to be here with the competition and go through the creative process," Pioneer junior Laylanna Oliveria said. "It's very interesting."
Many students said participating in Tech Wars has inspired them to potentially look into the STEM and trade fields someday.
"I think it gives you a really good opportunity to step your foot into these different careers, with manufacturing and coding, and see if you enjoy it or not," Michael Gorbach said.
Added Taber: "It's a very growing industry. It's never stopping, so that's where we try to push the kids toward."