Catoctin High School Student’s Four-Year Journey in STEM Education

Ben Harbaugh of Sabillasville graduated from Catoctin High School and will attend West Virginia University this fall to study Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

His passion for STEM began in 2022, while finishing at Thurmont Middle School, when a presentation about a local robotics program inspired him to join FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 686, Bovine Intervention. What started as curiosity quickly grew into a four-year commitment to robotics, engineering, and community outreach.

Throughout high school, Ben dedicated countless hours to designing, building, and competing with the team. He developed hands-on mechanical engineering skills through computer-aided design (CAD), custom parts, advanced manufacturing technologies, and robot systems development. He also served as a member of the robot drive team for two years, helping guide the team’s success in competitions.

In addition to technical work, Ben participated in outreach events, demonstrations, and public speaking engagements throughout the community, helping introduce younger students to STEM opportunities and for public awareness of the robotics program serving in Frederick County.

The highlight of his high school experience came in spring 2026, when Team 686 Bovine Intervention competed at the FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas. Competing against top teams from around the world, Team 686 finished sixth overall in its division, advanced as a fourth-seed team captain to the division finals along with their multi-team alliance, and earned Divisional Finalist. Ben credits the achievement to the dedication, teamwork, and support of his fellow team members, mentors, and family.

As a fitting conclusion to his high school STEM journey, Ben returned to local middle schools this spring to help demonstrate robotics and encourage students to explore future opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—just as he was inspired to do four years earlier.