Every great robotics program has an origin story, and for Bomb Squad, the years from 1996 to 2000 laid the foundation for everything the team would become. These early seasons were full of firsts: the first robots, the first competitions, and the first victories. Together, they set the tone for a culture built on innovation, teamwork, and community impact.
Bomb Squad was officially founded in 1996 under the guidance of a dedicated group of engineers and faculty from Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Their mentorship brought real‑world engineering into the classroom and gave students hands‑on experience with tools, problem-solving, and design long before STEM education became mainstream. Those early days focused on learning, experimenting, and discovering what a student‑driven engineering team could accomplish. The foundation they created, both technically and culturally, continues to shape the program today.
