Harrison Adams '26: Building, Testing, Innovating
February 11, 2026
This year, Harrison Adams ’26 continues to distinguish himself through his work in robotics and engineering, combining technical skill with collaboration, leadership, and perseverance.
Last winter, Harrison and his teammates earned the BEST Robotics Judges' Choice Award at the state competition. The recognition honored not only the performance of their robot but also the overall design process, teamwork, and innovation demonstrated throughout the season. For Harrison, the award represented far more than a trophy.
Reflecting on the experience, Harrison shared:
“From the blood, sweat, and tears poured into the robot to the difficulties encountered with systems presented at the competition, I feel that the efforts of our team were recognized at the state competition. Though certainly not representative of the entirety of the club, I feel that this was a success to be proud of regarding BEST Robotics, and hope that as a robotics club we can continue striving for such success as a community.”
BEST Robotics challenges students to design, build, and test a fully functional robot within a set timeframe, requiring strategic thinking, adaptability, and strong communication. For Harrison, the award represented not just a competitive achievement but a meaningful milestone for the entire team and the Robotics Club as a whole.
That same mindset is evident in his Engineering Capstone project. Alongside fellow senior Michael Peralta ’26, Harrison has spent months researching, designing, and constructing an electric vehicle from the ground up. The project has required detailed planning, mechanical design, wiring, fabrication, and repeated testing to ensure both safety and performance.
Recently, the team celebrated a major milestone: the vehicle’s first successful test drive on campus. As the car moved forward under its own power, a crowd of enthusiastic Lower School students gathered to watch — a moment that made the long hours of work especially meaningful.
The project has now entered its modification phase, where Harrison and Michael are refining the vehicle’s design, improving efficiency, and continuing to troubleshoot performance details.
Through both robotics and engineering design, Harrison has embraced opportunities to take complex ideas and turn them into tangible results — an example of the hands-on, collaborative learning that defines the ESD experience.
Whether collaborating with teammates in competition or testing a vehicle he helped build from scratch, Harrison exemplifies the curiosity, determination, and initiative that define the ESD experience.
We look forward to seeing how his passion for engineering continues to develop in the years ahead.
