(Houston, Texas - May 2, 2026) After earning the 1st Place Inspire Award in their division at the FIRST Championship for the second consecutive year, FIRST Tech Challenge Team 9848 GearView from Clearview Regional High School has placed among the top six FIRST Tech Challenge teams in the world. The Inspire Award is the program’s highest honor, recognizing excellence across all aspects of the competition, including robot design, programming, performance, outreach, and community impact.
Out of more than 8,000 teams that competed this season worldwide and 342 teams that advanced to the FIRST Championship across six divisions, GearView’s achievement places them among the most accomplished teams on the global stage. The team will showcase their award-winning robot, Atlas 3.0, at the upcoming GEAR Up NJ STEAM Showcase on Saturday, May 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Clearview Regional High School in Mullica Hill, NJ. Students, families, and community members will have the opportunity to experience competitive robotics firsthand and learn how to get involved.
GearView has established itself as one of New Jersey’s premier robotics teams through excellence in innovation, teamwork, and community engagement. The team previously earned the Inspire Award at the New Jersey State Championship and has advanced to the FIRST Championship for three consecutive years. Committed to an open-source approach, GearView shares its work to support learning and collaboration across the robotics community. The team’s full portfolio is available on their website www.9848gearview.com.
Beyond competition, GearView has expanded its regional impact through its GEAR Up NJ initiative, founded in 2024 and expanded throughout this season. “Winning the Inspire Award again at the FIRST Championship is an incredible honor, but what means the most to us is the impact we are making beyond our own team,” said Mia Brooks, a Clearview Regional High School senior and GearView member headed to Clemson University next year. “Through GEAR Up NJ and our mentorship programs, we are building opportunities for the next generation of engineers and leaders.”
Through GEAR Up NJ, GearView has launched nine new robotics teams, mentored hundreds of students, and developed a Mentor-Mentee Match system to spread the reach of GearView’s unique mentoring style, all while reaching thousands of additional students through 45 workshops and outreach events this season alone. Trexlor Boyer, a senior from mentee team 28830 Flameforge from Kingsway Regional High School said, “Through in-person mentorship, shared resources, and shop access, GearView graciously provided us with the support we needed to have a successful season that took us to the State Championship.”
A key component of GearView’s long-term vision is its “Pineapple Pipeline,” named after the team’s pineapple mascot. This structured pathway introduces students to STEM from pre-K through high school and supports their growth through high school. This pipeline has helped create sustained engagement in robotics while building leadership and technical skills across multiple teams. “I joined Gearview through the pineapple pipeline, and the skills I’ve gained over my half-decade in robotics are priceless,” said Michelle Odusami, a Clearview Regional High School junior who joined robotics in seventh grade.
The team’s outreach has led to meaningful industry partnerships: As exhibitors at the New Jersey Education Association Convention, GearView connected with Printed Solid, resulting in the donation of more than $5,500 worth of 3D printers and filament to support student learning. This partnership also led to a hosted scrimmage at Printed Solid’s facility and an invitation for GearView to exhibit at 3DPrintopia this September.
“It is a great pleasure for us at Printed Solid and Prusa Research to support the students participating in the FIRST robotics competitions. These young men and women are the minds of our future and we are glad to support them in their educational endeavors,” said Chris Pelesky, Chief Sales/Marketing Officer for Printed Solid.
GearView’s long-term partnership with Boeing creates meaningful opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and showcase student work to industry professionals. Through these experiences, students gain a clearer perspective on how skills translate to real-world engineering and innovation. “Boeing is proud to partner with 9848 GearView and congratulates them on winning the Inspire Award” said Lindsay Leonard, Vice President, Boeing Global Engagement. “Their teamwork and mentorship through GEAR Up NJ reflect the values we’re strengthening at Boeing. Programs like GearView’s Pineapple Pipeline build not only better robots but also the next generation of engineers and leaders— exactly the impact we strive to support.”
In recognition of these achievements, the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, led by Director Frank J. DiMarco, formally commended GearView on April 15th for its outstanding contributions to STEM education and community engagement, extending best wishes for the team’s continued success on the world stage.
About 9848 GearView
GearView is a high-performing, student-led FIRST Tech Challenge team that uses a data-driven engineering process to foster individual growth, team excellence, and sustainable robotics programs across New Jersey and beyond. Supported by sponsors and partners including Clearview Regional High School, Printed Solid, Gene Haas, Boeing, Comcast, Paulsboro Refining Company, New Jersey Education Association, Fluxspace, and Rowan University, the team expands access to STEM opportunities and is always seeking new partners to support its mission of developing the next generation of engineers and leaders.
Team members: Jonah Arbushites, Jacob Bowen, Mason Brooks, Mia Brooks, Steven Del Rossi, James Dolan, Tyler Gray, Joseph Guzzo, Robert Lopez, Aleksei Mordovin, Michelle Odusami, Connor Rambo, Gabriel Schweibinz, Brady Singh, Isabella Vu, and Kevin Whitehead.
Coaches: Ruth Barreiro, Tara Pridy, Dr. Robin Dole, and Larry Weng
Media Contact
Ruth Barreiro
Head Coach, FIRST Tech Challenge Team 9848 GearView
Clearview Regional High School
rbarreiro@clearviewregional.edu
Team Contact
Team 9848 GearView 9848@student.clearviewregional.edu
Social Media
Instagram & YouTube: @gearview_official
(Above) Boeing visit to 9848 GearView’s pit at the FIRST Championship
(Above) 9848 GearView immediately after winning 1st Place Inspire, Jackson Division