Our mission
A consistent leader in advocating for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the region of Hampton Roads Virginia, Triple Helix seeks to spread understanding and appreciation for STEM disciplines within our community by:
Building both life skills and
world-class competition robots
In the course of their work, our students become proficient team members and grow their responsibility, time management skills, and accountability. Triple Helix is at the forefront of a cultural movement which produces students well prepared for leadership roles in their future careers.
Engaging in iterative
and collaborative learning
A close simulation of a small engineering firm, Triple Helix grows working relationships between students and mentors as we together co-investigate real, tough problems in STEM. Mentors facilitate high-level student decision-making and develop students as independent thinkers and leaders.
Exemplifying gracious professionalism
We foster a winning spirit and encourage team members to reach for their maximum potential. Triple Helix team members exemplify good citizenship by taking an active role in our community. We build great robots and we also grow great people who will lead the future knowledge economy.
Interested in joining?
Great! We need your contribution to the team, even if you don’t want to build robots, or even if you don’t have any prior experience.
Read the team handbook
Our handbook outlines the steps to joining our team.
Sign up for our mailing list
Sign up to receive periodic updates about our events, projects, accomplishments, and more.
Drop by our next meeting
Learn how to find our meeting locations.
Check out our team calendar.
Plan to attend any of our regular weekly open-door meetings: typically Thursday evenings between 6pm and 9pm.
Contact us to tell us about your interest
Tell us about your background and what you’d like to get our Triple Helix experience!
More information about the team
Triple Helix is the competitive robotics team of Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia. We compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition as Team 2363. Triple Helix was founded in September 2007 to expand student access to scientific and technical education at Menchville. The team’s founding was made possible by a grant from our founding partner the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and we maintain a strong relationship with ARL today. In addition, Triple Helix is proud to represent NASA Langley Research Center as one of its two house teams.
Triple Helix is an all-volunteer organization made up of hardworking students and mentors. Our team’s high level of technical competence has enabled us to regularly compete on the world stage. Triple Helix shares our expertise by providing in-person mentor support, sharing and donating resources, publishing whitepapers, and making conference presentations. A commitment to excellence is “in our genes!”
Our major accomplishments include:
At least 93% of our students pursue college educations, with 80% entering a STEM career path. Graduating seniors report that their Triple Helix experiences award them “a glimpse into the type of job I want to have professionally, a more complete understanding of project management, friendships that I will never forget, and leadership skills to take into college and the workplace.” Another stated “I learned what I wanted to do in life.”
Triple Helix established the Rumble in the Roads as the premier offseason FIRST Robotics Competition tournament in southeast Virginia. A collaboration between Triple Helix, Blackwater Robotics, and the Cat 5 Cybercanes, the Rumble engages over 30 teams in a one-day competition each fall. The Rumble is open to the public and free to attend.
We’ve been officially recognized as a cultural asset in our community. The intent of the City of Newport News Cultural Attractions Fund is to “add to the quality of life in the community and enhance the City’s ability to attract and retain businesses and residents.” Triple Helix is a cultural force that enables students to experience STEM as a thrilling, challenging competition– a proven method for producing STEM culture leaders.
Our latest publications
Beyond Chairman’s: teaming up to build assistive tech
People with disabilities are often challenged to resume the activities of their everyday lives. Assistive technology (AT) helps people resume independent participation, however commercial devices are often expensive and unsuited for individual use. Occupational Therapists (OT) increase client access to AT, but may lack skills, material and equipment needed to make individualized solutions. In this […]
How lead mentor transitions happen
One of the most critical existential risks for sustainable-minded teams (and the biggest single reason that teams “retire”) is the loss of their champion– the 1 or 2 key lead individuals who hold the whole thing together. In this presentation, head coach Nate Laverdure discusses how the outgoing lead mentors, the incoming lead mentors, the […]
Chairman’s Award submission 2020
Triple Helix is proud to publish this essay as part of our submission for the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition Chairman’s Award. Triple Helix has evolved to be a STEM leader in the Hampton Roads (HR) community. As such, it is important to evaluate our environment and assess the most pressing needs to address. We determined […]
NMIR correspondence
In constantly striving for an improved FIRST experience for Triple Helix students, team administrators share partially redacted Non-Medical Incident Reports (NMIR) and supporting documentation submitted to FIRST Chesapeake and FIRST headquarters. Re-submission of 2018 report – March 5, 2020 Safety volunteer at offseason event – February 2, 2018