Welcome to GEARED UP 2026: Mentor Conference! Join us at James Madison University’s Festival Conference & Student Center in Harrisonburg, VA, for two days of learning, connection, and community.
You power 10,000+ students across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This day is built for YOU. Whether you’re a rookie coach launching your first team or a 20-year veteran looking for fresh ideas, you’ll find sessions, workshops, and conversations designed to sharpen your skills and recharge your passion.
Proudly presented by Aramco Americas. See you in Harrisonburg.
Join Dr. Andrew Koch, Lead Coach of 836 Robobees, for a case study of a team restructured from traditional skill-based subteams (mechanical, programming, media) into mission-aligned product teams responsible for specific robot mechanisms — game piece acquisition, scoring, handling, end-game, and frame and electrical. Covers the methods used to realign the team, the cultural and engagement benefits, problems the new structure solved, and the problems that remain. Aimed at mentors looking for team structures that broaden ownership beyond the handful of students who typically self-manage across silos.
Part of a three-session series demystifying the judging process, this installment focuses on FTC. Covers how judges evaluate teams, addresses transparency and consistency concerns directly, and gives mentors insight to better prepare students for interviews and award submissions.
