KAYENTA, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren visited the Rezbotics Challenge, a student robotics competition, where he observed teams in action, spoke directly with participants, and witnessed firsthand the innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills on display.
Walking the room, President Nygren watched students operate their machines, explain their designs, and collaborate under competition conditions, calling the experience both inspiring and humbling.
During his remarks, President Nygren thanked students for their dedication to science, engineering, and technology, noting how impressive it was to see young innovators applying advanced concepts in robotics and programming. He shared a vision for growing the event to rival the scale and excitement of major school sporting events, elevating STEM to the same level of community pride and support.
President Nygren also recognized educators, judges, volunteers, and families for their critical role in student success. He emphasized the need for equitable access to these opportunities, stating it is unacceptable for teams to be unable to participate due to travel or lodging costs.
To help address these barriers, he committed to working with Navajo Nation Tribal Enterprises, including NTEC, and external partners to raise funds, setting an ambitious goal of $250,000 to expand resources, increase participation, and remove financial obstacles.
He concluded by encouraging students to continue pursuing their passions, reminding them that science, engineering, and technology are powerful pathways to meaningful careers—and to building a strong future for the Navajo Nation.
