Muratec USA Mechanical Design Engineer Eric Simpson, center, volunteers with FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), mentoring high school students in engineering as they design a robot for competition. Eric’s team is heading to the world competition in Houston, TX, April 16-19, 2025.

Robots, reefs, and Spring Break in Space City? Count us in.

While many teens may spend spring break at the beach, a group of high school students from North Carolina is headed to Houston with a robot, a dream, and a ticket to the international FIRST Robotics Championship.

And Muratec USA Mechanical Design Engineer Eric Simpson will be right there with them.

Eric has worked at Muratec USA since 2011. Over the past few years, he’s served as an engineering mentor with the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition, a global program that combines sport with science and technology. High school students, design, build, and program industrial-sized robots to compete in themed, alliance-based games. Beyond engineering skills, participants develop competencies in teamwork, branding, and community engagement. ​

His team, The H.E.I.S.T. (Helping Engineer Innovative Solutions Together) netted two team awards against North Carolina teams that boosted them to the international championship.

“I am super excited,” Eric said. “There’s going to be a lot of the brightest young minds out there. And mentors with a lot of experience I can glean from.”

Eric said the team is both excited and nervous. He’s planning his pre-game pep talk to the team now.

“Engage in eye contact with the judges. Remain calm. With all the lights and all the noise, it can be a lot of pressure to perform,” he said. “But this is what we fought for. There are some really, really, really good teams that didn’t make it. We exceeded all expectations to get here.”

But, he’ll also add: “Just go out there and have fun.”

FIRST Robotics Mentor

Eric, a Fayetteville, N.C. native, grew up watching his dad work on Humvees for the U.S. Army. Following his dad’s example, Eric broke apart his Hot Wheels cars and changed the wheels on them.

A job shadowing at DuPont, an American multinational chemical company, was a game changer for Eric when he was in high school.

“I saw people who looked like me in engineering,” he said. “It was huge.”

After that fateful job shadowing, Eric attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was determined to mentor students after joining the National Society of Black Engineers, an organization that supports black engineers and scientists.

“I said, ‘I’m going to make sure I go back and work with students and let them know they can do what they want to do,” he said.

For Eric, that means spending Saturdays building a working robot with The H.E.I.S.T., mostly home-schooled high school students ages 14-18. The rookie team meets at the David B. Waymer Community Center in Huntersville, NC, twice a week to work on their robot.

The teens gain experience with both hand and power tools, learn how to solder, and build wooden frames with bumpers (pool noodles) to protect the robot’s components. They also designed a team brand and created their own website.

“They figure out what they’re good at,” Eric said. “It can be a high-pressure environment, and there are arguments, but then they share a meal, and it’s all good again.”

The overarching theme for the 2024-2025 FIRST season is “FIRST DIVE,” emphasizing ocean exploration and conservation. The 2025 FRC game is titled “REEFSCAPE.”

In “REEFSCAPE,” teams utilize their engineering skills to strengthen one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats, challenging teams to manipulate game pieces representing elements of a coral reef ecosystem. Specifically, robots are tasked with scoring PVC pipes (coral) and playground balls (algae) into designated goals on the field.

For a first-year team, The H.E.I.S.T. had a great showing at the Mecklenburg County qualifier event at Palisades High School in Charlotte, NC, March 22-23. On Saturday of the two-day competition, the team was in third place but eliminated in the second round on Sunday.

Members of The H.E.I.S.T during an intense moment at the drive station during competition this season. Eric serves as drive team coach for the team.

They brought home the Rookie All-Star Award, which “celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology,” according to the FIRST Robotics website.

At the second competition of their season at UNC Pembroke, The H.E.I.S.T received the Gracious Professionalism Award, recognizing them for outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values (discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun) and how they work together both on and off the field.

They progressed to the state competition at UNC Greensboro, taking home one of two Rookie All-Star awards to first-year teams, clearing the way to the world competition April 16-19.

“This year, the team’s showing in competitions made me feel validated because there were students who began with little knowledge about design and tools, but by the time they arrived at their first competition, they had already gained enough experience to offer help to other teams,” Eric said. “Winning the Rookie All-Star Award felt great because it helped the students feel their hard work paid off despite being new to the world of robotics.”

Encouraging STEM Careers

Another Muratec USA mechanical design engineer, Blair Hollar, participated in FIRST Robotics as a high school student, and also mentors a Charlotte, NC, high school team.

Her team, T-Rex of Olympic High School, competed in Asheville, NC, March 15-16 where they placed second. Team T-Rex also hosted the competition at Palisades High School where they won the Industrial Design Award.”

Blair Hollar, left, a Muratec USA mechanical design engineer, also mentors students in the First Robotics Competition program. Both Blair and Eric strive to inspire students to enter STEM careers.

Both Eric and Blair know that inspiring high school students in STEM studies now means more young people will pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“In general, STEM education promotes curiosity, analytical thinking, and creativity—qualities that are invaluable not only in careers but also in everyday decision-making and understanding the world,” Blair said. “I am committed to providing young people with early exposure to STEM career paths, starting in high school or even earlier, to help them determine whether these fields align with their interests and aspirations.

“For instance, participation in our robotics team has sparked interest in mechanical and software engineering among students who had not previously considered these career options,” Blair continued. “Additionally, it has allowed students who were already inclined toward these fields to gain a clearer understanding of the necessary skills and responsibilities involved. This experience empowers them to make informed decisions regarding their future career goals and college majors.”

Both Muratec USA engineers will continue to encourage and mentor young people.

 “In college, I knew I wanted to give what I didn’t have – someone who’s been there and done that,” Eric said. “The students can see ‘he did it, and I can do it, too.’ It is important to encourage youth to pursue STEM careers because the world continues to change, so their new, fresh ideas are needed to drive the technology to best serve the world’s needs as we move forward.”

Doug Schrotenboer, Muratec USA’s design engineering manager, supervises Blair and Eric. He emphasized the importance of mentorship in young people’s lives.

“Eric and Blair do a wonderful job opening these students’ minds to what can be possible,” Doug said. “Their enthusiasm for teaching is transferred to the students in learning. The young people are our future. For the U.S. to be competitive in the ever-evolving world market, we need our young people exposed to and educated in the sciences and technology/engineering.”