Scholastic spark: UF-bound Viera High grad awarded $20,000 robotics scholarship

A decade of interest in robotics for Viera High graduate paid off for Samantha Walsh, who recently was surprised to learn she'd won a $20,000 scholarship from Florida Power and Light's FIRST Robotics program.

Every year, FPL awards the FIRST Robotics Scholarship to one Florida student with an interest in an engineering or information management career. The student must have two or more years under their belt in a FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST Robotics Competition program in FPL's service area, according to Margarita Munoz, FPL account executive.

Walsh, who learned she had won the award when FPL officials showed up at her house with the news (her parents knew in advance), more than meets those qualifications.

"I was very surprised and grateful that I was chosen for this scholarship," said Walsh, who will attend University of Florida as a freshman this fall.

"While I mainly focused on the business side of things on the team, I dabbled a little in the programming and electrical side while also learning how to use tools and build things. Beside robotics, I also took programming classes, all of high school, that really helped to grow my love of computer science."

Walsh was involved in FIRST from second grade through the end of high school, she said, though she also explored technology and engineering outside the program.

In college, she hopes to be involved in a research project and eventually pursue an engineering-related internship, to continue learning Spanish and potentially, to study abroad.

"Receiving this scholarship means that I have the opportunity to go to a college I love and pursue something that really interests me," said Walsh, who received flowers, balloons and UF swag along with the standard "big check."

"It really makes all the work I've put in and all the support I've received from many wonderful people worth it."

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com . X: @_ finchwalker .

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Scholastic spark: UF-bound Viera High grad awarded $20,000 robotics scholarship