Apple Valley All-Girls Robotics Team Gains Worldwide Recognition

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- They call themselves the "Iron Maidens."

They are a young team in the world of high school robotics, beginning only two years ago with Emily Deboard and Atalanta Stoeke.

These Apple Valley sophomores just got home from the High School Robotic World Championships.

"The world competition was huge. There were 40,000 people there from all across the world and it was a great experience," said team member Marie Peña.

The robot that got them there is named "Lady Steele." Peña says she is the result of many unsuccessful attempts.

"The week before the competition, our first qualifier, we had to take everything apart because the robot was not functional whatsoever," Peña said. "We had two twelve-hour sessions of building what is now this, and with a couple of other qualifiers we modified her and made her the amazing Lady Steele you see now."

They took home one of only seven awards granted by the judges.

"We were super honored," said team member Cori Roberts. "We did not expect to win an award."

But the "Connect Award" wasn't for the robot. It honors their outreach for STEM -- meaning they are the best team in the world at providing STEM outreach in their community.

It is a huge deal, like winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

"It's still gonna hit me at some point, I haven't really absorbed it yet!" Roberts said. "It's still been a week, it's … there are no words."

Roberts testified last year in front of the entire House and Senate, promoting grants for STEM.

The whole team will travel to Washington, D.C. to support STEM funding at the national level.