Renton middle and high school students recently competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition.

The students from Dimmitt, McKnight and Nelsen middle schools and Hazen and Renton high schools, used engineering principles and real-world math and science skills to design, build and program their robots.Five teams of Renton students competed against other regional teams.

The teams will compete again this weekend at the final FIRST Tech Challenge competition at Kent ShoWare Center, 625 West James Street, Kent. The event is free and open to the public.More than 1,200 students from grades fourth through 12th, from across the state will be competing.

The FIRST Lego League will also be competing this weekend at the same venue in Kent.

Robotics courses and teams are part of the district’s work to improve student knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and help improve problem solving skills, technological literacy and develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills.