Today we’d like to introduce you to Trish Cook.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It all began with the former coach of the Lovejoy High School Robotics Program, under whom student participation grew rapidly. As the program expanded, it became clear that parent volunteers were needed to support the coach, help manage logistics, and invest in the students.
That’s when the Lovejoy Robotics Booster Club truly kicked into gear—recruiting parents to mentor students, assist with fundraising, and help host the annual For the Love of Bots tournament. The tournament quickly became both a key fundraiser and a meaningful opportunity for students to compete and give back by volunteering.
Over the past few years, a core group of parents—each bringing unique talents—have consistently stepped up to serve. Among them were engineers, an event planner, an accountant, a skilled fundraiser, a networking company owner, and a creative professional. It was incredible how each person’s strengths complemented the team and elevated the program.
During an out-of-state Signature Event, several of those parents were chaperoning students when an idea began to take shape: What if we brought a Signature Event to Dallas? By the end of that trip, every one of those chaperones had agreed to make it happen. Together, we formed a nonprofit organization called the DFW Robotics Alliance, and we’re now preparing to host our very first Signature Event—Robot Rodeo DFW—this January 2026.
The response has been incredible: 92 teams are already registered, with a growing waiting list of teams eager to join.
What makes VEX Robotics so special is that it’s more than just a competition. It’s an experience that fosters creativity, teamwork, leadership, passion, and problem-solving. For students interested in engineering, it’s the closest thing to a real-world professional environment—where innovation meets collaboration and learning comes to life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No. None of the team had ever taken on a project of this size. We had to quickly learn the requirements to host Robot Rodeo DFW, create a complicated proposal to be approved by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, recruit Key Volunteers from across the country with the necessary skill sets, and secure sponsors for funds. We are still looking for more sponsors to help with the costs of creating an event like this for so many students.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The DFW Robotics Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting STEM education and supporting competitive robotics programs across the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Founded by a group of passionate parents and mentors from the Lovejoy High School Robotics Program, the Alliance was created to expand access to high-quality robotics experiences and to bring large-scale competitive events to North Texas.
Our mission is to inspire and empower students through hands-on robotics education, helping them develop essential skills in engineering, programming, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Through collaboration with schools, industry partners, and community volunteers, the DFW Robotics Alliance works to:
Foster a thriving, inclusive robotics community in North Texas
Provide mentorship, resources, and training for students and educators
Host tournaments and outreach events that highlight the value of STEM education
Build connections between students and professionals in engineering and technology
The DFW Robotics Alliance is built on the belief that today’s robotics students are tomorrow’s engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers—and that investing in them strengthens the future of our communities and industries alike.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Perseverance! We have faced multiple challenges as we have worked to bring our first event to fruition, as refuse to give up!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://robotrodeotx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robotrodeodfw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580387792117
