During the fall semester of 2010, mechanical engineering students from Edison State Community College and Wright State University shared their skills and knowledge with students from the Upper Valley JVS (UVJVS) pre-engineering technology program in a highly motivating robotics activity. The activity culminated in 47 teams from regional high schools, community colleges, and universities participating in a BOTS competition held at the Dayton Airport Expo Center at the annual Dayton Tool and Manufacturing Showcase. This article presents an overview of the BOTS competition and the development process the students followed to construct their robots--an experience that offered great benefit to both secondary and postsecondary students. (Contains 4 figures, 1 table and 10 photos.)