Alaskan Teens Unearth Culture and Code | Anchorage News

A crew of young innovators from Bethel, Alaska, known as the Dirt Busters, stunned the international robotics competition with their Alaskan archaeology project, blending STEM with culture. They created an online activity book for classrooms, showcased traditional Yup’ik food and performances, and even taught yo-yo making and story strings. Amid the high-energy event, they bonded with peers from across the globe, discovered local archaeological digs in Massachusetts, and found unexpected home ties at an ice cream museum featuring akutaq. Their coach, Nicole Smith, earned a special award, and the team received a judges’ award for exceptional creativity and community impact — proving that innovation, collaboration, and cultural pride can rise to the global stage. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/638157b8e6efbe1d