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Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with an unexpected detour. For Miranda Rodriguez, what started as a simple independent study at Texas Tech turned into nearly two decades of impact in the FIRST in Texas community.
When Miranda first walked into her computer science professor’s office, she was ready to present a carefully crafted research proposal. Instead, she was offered something entirely different: help out with “this robot thing” he had been assigned. It was not part of her plan, but she said yes. Somewhere between debugging code with students and managing robots, Miranda discovered a passion that would shape the next chapter of her life.
Since joining FIRST in Texas in 2007, Miranda has supported students across the entire FIRST pipeline as a programming mentor for FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition teams. Her leadership and expertise have also shaped the judging process at many levels of competition. Over the years she has served in nearly every judging role for FRC, including MCI/Technical Advisor Judge, Match Observer, FIRST Impact Judge, FIRST Leadership Judge, Judge Advisor, Stage Advisor at the FIRST Championship, and Senior Judge Advisor for FIRST in Texas.
Through her years as a judge, Miranda has had the opportunity to witness the long-term impact of students’ ideas and initiatives. One experience that stands out to her involved a team that once shared an ambitious vision of creating a complete STEM pipeline for students in their community, from elementary school through college. At the time, the idea was still new and unproven.
Years later, Miranda encountered the team again. This time, the students presenting were the very first group of elementary students who had once been part of that original vision. They had grown up through the program, achieved 100 percent college acceptance with scholarships, and were now mentoring younger students entering the pipeline themselves. Watching that transformation unfold was a powerful reminder of how sustained commitment and local impact can truly change lives.
Serving as a Judge Advisor has also given Miranda the opportunity to guide students through challenging moments. Competitions can be high energy and emotional, but she sees those moments as opportunities for growth. When students approach her with concerns, she focuses on listening and helping them work toward fair solutions. For Miranda, those conversations help students learn how to advocate for themselves while building confidence and communication skills.
What continues to motivate Miranda is the perspective she gains through volunteering. Judges spend the day listening to teams share their ideas, innovations, and outreach efforts, then return to the judge room to tell each team’s story. Those moments often leave volunteers inspired by the creativity, compassion, and determination students bring to their communities.
For Miranda, volunteering with FIRST reinforces a powerful truth: robots may be the medium, but the real goal is building better humans. And along the way, the inspiration flows both ways.
Through her mentorship, leadership, and dedication to students, Miranda Rodriguez continues to help shape the future of STEM and the communities these students will go on to serve.