Greenhills Robotics: A Season of Growth, Grit, and Global Competition

The 2025 season was nothing short of remarkable for Greenhills’ Upper School program, team 5530, affectionately known as the Lawnmowers. From local competitions to the world stage, the Lawnmowers carved a path marked by technical excellence, steadfast teamwork, and a whole lot of lawnmower-themed spirit.

Their journey culminated in April with an extraordinary achievement: qualifying for the 2025 FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas, where they joined more than 600 teams and 50,000 participants from around the globe. Competing in the Curie Division, the Lawnmowers held their own against some of the most accomplished teams in the world, finishing with a balanced 5-5-0 record and soaking in every moment of the international experience. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

“From the moment they arrived in Houston, our students acted as responsible citizens,” said R. Charles Dershimer, who coaches the robotics team alongside Jeremy Green. “They connected with peers from across the country and around the world, sharing insights, strategies, and a mutual passion for robotics. Being there stoked a passion in every member of the team for returning to the event in 2026.”

During the event, First Robotics founder Dean Kamen reminded the crowd that robotics is about much more than machines—it’s about inspiring the next generation of innovators. That ethos was evident in the way the Lawnmowers carried themselves throughout the season: as engaged learners, problem solvers, collaborators, and gracious professionals.

And while the Championship marked a high point, the journey there was paved with milestones. Earlier in the season, the team competed fiercely at the FIRST in Michigan State Championship, ranking 32nd in the DTE Division and advancing to the playoffs as the second pick of Alliance 7. Their robot, strategy, and drive team stood out, ultimately placing 72nd out of 525 Michigan teams.

Even more impressively, Greenhills earned the Rising All-Star Award at States, a judged honor recognizing teams showing extraordinary growth and potential. It’s a nod not only to the students’ engineering chops, but to their vision for what comes next.

Greenhills Earns Most Prestigious Honor: FIRST Impact Award
Among the many milestones of the 2025 season, one stands above the rest. At the Detroit District Event, the Lawnmowers were awarded the FIRST Impact Award—the most prestigious honor in all of FIRST Robotics. This marked the first time in school history that Greenhills has received the award.

As described by FIRST, the Impact Award “honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST.” More than just an engineering accomplishment, it’s a recognition of the Lawnmowers’ deep and sustained commitment to outreach, equity, and cultural transformation through STEM. The award celebrates teams that inspire their schools and communities to embrace science and technology, and that work actively to build a more inclusive and innovative future.

To be selected by the judges for this distinction is a powerful affirmation of the Greenhills team’s work—not just in the lab or on the competition field, but in the values they uphold and the community they cultivate. It speaks to the heart of what makes Greenhills robotics unique: a mission-driven culture where technical talent and social impact go hand in hand.

Nico Aagesen Named FIRST Dean’s List Finalist
If the FIRST Impact Award honors a team’s ability to transform culture and inspire leadership through action, the FIRST Dean’s List Award recognizes the individual students who embody those same ideals. This year, Greenhills junior Nico Aagesen was named a Dean’s List Finalist, one of the highest individual honors in the FIRST Robotics program.

The award celebrates outstanding student leaders who exemplify the values of inclusion, inspiration, innovation, and integrity, both on their teams and in their broader communities. Nico, who helped lead the Lawnmowers’ sponsorship and strategic partnership efforts, stood out for his steady presence and thoughtful leadership style.

As Dershimer noted in his recognition of Nico: “Your peers on the team recommended you with sincere descriptions of how you have moved the team forward. They praised your leadership, noting that you ‘lead others quietly by setting an example and inspiring action.’ The judges clearly saw this as well.”

Nico’s advancement to the World Championship in Houston as a Dean’s List Finalist wasn’t just a personal achievement—it was a reflection of the Lawnmowers’ collective mission. As the team earns recognition for transforming STEM culture through the Impact Award, Nico stands as a living example of that transformation in action.

Dershimer Nominated for Woodie Flowers Award
Leadership wasn’t limited to the students. This year, coach Dershimer received a particularly meaningful honor: he was nominated by the team for the FIRST Robotics Woodie Flowers Award, which recognizes adult mentors who inspire excellence in communication and team leadership. Importantly, this award is student-nominated and student-written, underscoring the deep respect Team 5530 holds for coach Dershimer’s steady hand and heart-first mentoring.

The nomination alone is a powerful tribute—an affirmation of Charles’s ability not only to build competitive robots but to build up the young people who design, drive, and maintain them.

Looking Ahead
Though the team’s two seniors, Chase Weaver and Ishan Leahy, are graduating, the team is already looking toward the future. With strong underclassman leadership, a deep bench of engineering talent, and an emerging alumni mentoring network, the Lawnmowers are poised to return stronger than ever in 2026.

This season showcased what makes Greenhills robotics special: a culture of collaboration, creativity, and character. Whether pulling their signature starter rope before each match or offering tools to a competitor in need, the Lawnmowers did more than compete—they contributed.

As one parent put it after the team’s return from Houston: “We saw our kids become innovators. And we saw them become teammates.”