ROCKWALL, Texas, April 22, 2013 – Over the weekend, more than 15,000 student participants, educators, mentors, industry leaders and community members from 24 countries descended upon the Anaheim Convention Center to celebrate the accomplishments of 700 of the world’s best student-run VEX Robotics Competition teams, as they went head to head with their custom-built and programmed robots at the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation. Teams from China, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States reigned supreme, taking home the coveted Winning Alliance trophies for the Middle School World Championship, the High School World Championship, and the College World Championship competitions. Additionally, VEX IQ, a new line of educational robotics products, and the VEX IQ Challenge, the pilot competition program, were introduced to the world at the event by VEX Robotics, with nearly 70 elementary and middle school teams piloting the new program.

“The teams that qualify to compete in this championship attend with tremendous passion, and this weekend is really about celebrating their accomplishments along with the knowledge and experience they have gained as a result of their participation in the VEX Robotics Competition,” said Jason Morrella, president of the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation. “Competitive robotics programs like the VEX Robotics Competition, provide an excellent opportunity for hands-on STEM learning that will make these students unstoppable in any career path they choose. These students are the leaders of their generation and we expect to see great achievements from them in the future,” concluded Morrella.

The global championship kicked-off on Wednesday and Thursday with initial qualification matches and skills challenges. On Friday morning, thousands of young engineers filed into the VEX Dome to participate in the opening ceremonies parade of nations, where each team proudly bore their respective countries’ brilliant flags. Following the parade, teams quickly transitioned to an afternoon full of intense back-to-back qualification matches. By Saturday, qualification rounds came to an end, the top performing teams went through the alliance selection process, and the division champion alliances collaborated to advance over their toughest competition yet in the finals. Entertainment attractions including the UCLA marching band and Light Force – an explosive hi-tech rhythmic drumming troupe, elevated the evening during the final competitions, guiding teams and spectators through the award ceremonies.

Altogether, more than 700 VEX teams out of more than 7,300 teams worldwide qualified to compete in one of four challenges hosted by the REC Foundation this past weekend. The competitions included: VEX IQ Challenge World Championship (ages 8-14 year olds), VRC Middle School World Championship (ages 11-14), VRC High School World Championship (ages 15-18) and the VEX U (ages18+).

The 2013 VEX Robotics World Championship Alliance Winners are as follows:

• The VEX IQ Challenge Teamwork Champions (Note – two alliances tied in the final match, resulting in a tie for Teamwork Champion). Champions included Team 44, Top Secret from Maddison Middle School in Rexburg, Idaho; Team 37, Rocky Mountain πrates from Friends School in Boulder, Colo.; Team 42, Annihilation=MG^2 from Community in Loveland, Colo.; Team 3018P, Techna Pawns from Techna PWN Robotics, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
• The VRC Middle School World Champion Winning Alliance was Team 8065B, FT5 from Singapore Combined School in Singapore; Team 8192D, Shanghai Huangpu from Shanghai Huangpu Teenagers S&T Activity Center in Shanghai, China; and Team 7792A, Shishi Middle School A from Chengdu Shishi Middle School in Chengdu, China.

• The VRC High School World Champion Winning Alliance was Team 2625, Tech-Know Commandos from Worcester Technical High School in Worcester, Mass.; Team 2915A, Lynfield Jack Attack from Lynfield College in Auckland, New Zealand; and Team 2941D, Oats Robotics from Otumoetai College in Tauranga, New Zealand.

• The VEX U World Champion was Team TCAN1, UTCA from Universidad Tecnologica De Cancun in Cancun, Mexico.

“My team and I have been tweaking our robot since this time last year, trying to perfect and execute it as efficiently as possible and drive up our score against some of our toughest competitors,” said Jason McKinney from Team 2625, Tech-Know Commandos, part of the VEX Robotics High School Championship Winning Alliance from Worcester Technical High School in Worcester, Mass. “VEX has helped me realize my true potential and see exactly what we are able to accomplish as a team if we put all our effort into a common goal. I am absolutely overwhelmed with joy and exhaustion,” continued Jason.

Team 5225A, the E-Bots Pilons, from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, was presented with the overall VRC World Championship Excellence Award, the highest honor in the VEX Robotics Competition, given to the team with the most well-rounded VEX Robotics program. Team NAR, North American Robotics, from Philadelphia, Pa. was presented with the VEX U World Championship Excellence Award. Team 37, Rocky Mountain πrates, from Friends School, in Boulder, Colo. received the VEX IQ Challenge Elementary School Excellence Award. Team 30, Gears and Geeks, from Newhart Middle School, in Mission Viejo, Calif. received the VEX IQ Challenge Middle School Excellence Award.

Several other technical and value-based awards were presented to teams throughout the event. Below is a list of the teams and individuals that were recognized for excelling in some of the top categories. For a complete list of award winners, including winners of the online challenges, visit http://www.robotevents.com/championship:

Tournament Finalists: Each team on the finalist alliance

• VRC MS Team 8065A, Zeus Jr. from Singapore Combined Schools in Singapore; Team 8192A, Shanghai Huangpu from Shanghai Huangpu Teenagers S&T Activity Center in Shanghai, China; and Team 8192C, Shanghai Huangpu from Shanghai Huangpu Teenagers S&T Activity Center in Shanghai, China
• VRC HS Team 2587Z, DiscoBots from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas; Team 2941A, Oats Robotics from Otumoetai College in Tauranga, New Zealand; and Team 1615A, Patribots from North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend, Mass.
• VEX U Team NAR, Moose Eagles, from North American Robotics, in Philadelphia, Pa.

Robot Skills Challenge Champion: Team with the best robot skills score

• VEX IQ Challenge ES/MS team 42, Annihilation=MG^2, from Community in Boulder, Colo.
• VRC MS Team 8066A, Atom from Hai Sing Catholic School in Singapore
• VRC HS Team 2915A, Lynfield Jack Attack from Lynfield College in Auckland, New Zealand
• VEX U Team TZMG2, UT-Zona Metropolitana de Gdl from Universidad Tecnologica Zona Metropolitana Guadalajara in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga Jalisco, Mexico

Programming Skills Challenge Champion: Team with the best robot programming skills score

• VRC MS Team  8065A, Zeus Jr. from Singapore Combined Schools in Singapore
• VRC HS Team 5225A, E-Bots Pilons from E-Bots in Oakville, Canada
• VEX U Team TZMG2, UT-Zona Metropolitana de Gdl from Universidad Tecnologica Zona Metropolitana Guadalajara in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga Jalisco, Mexico

Design Award World Champion: Presented to a team that demonstrates a solid approach to the design process, project management, time management and team organization.

• VEX IQ Challenge ES Team 6148B, Bowie Bulldogs, from Greenville, Texas
• VEX IQ Challenge MS Team 3946R, Sun Devils, from Englewood, Colo.
• VRC MS/HS Team 3876C, RoboRattlers, from Longmont, Colo.

Educate Award World Champion: Given to a team that has been able to successfully integrate VEX Robotics into their STEM curriculums.

• VRC MS/HS Team 2918A, GCEC, from Glenfield College, in Auckland, New Zealand

Innovate Award World Champion: Presented to a team that has demonstrated a strong combination of ingenuity and innovation in designing their VEX robot.

• VEX IQ Challenge ES/MS Team 35D, Crandroids, from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
• VRC MS/HS Team 3018, Techna Pwn Robotics, from Council Bluffs, Iowa
• VEX U Team BLRS, Boiler Robotics, from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Inspire Award World Champion: Presented to a team that demonstrates outstanding leadership through actions with other teams.

• VRC MS/HS Team 323Z, Aftershock, from Cornerstone Robotics in Greenwood, Ind.

Mentor of the Year Award: Given to a team mentor that has helped their students achieve goals that were seemingly out of reach. This individual is a role model, a leader and an extraordinary mentor who helps show students new ways to expand their knowledge and solve problems in the worlds of STEM.

• Stephen Sadler, VRC Team 5194, the East Barnet 1, from East Barnet School in the U.K.
• Pat Fairbank, VRC Team 254, the Cheesy Poofs, from Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, Calif.

Partner of the Year: Given to an event sponsor that has gone above and beyond to help spread the VEX footprint to even more teams and students.

• Janet Auer, Global Partnerships and Programs Specialist, Chevron

Teacher of the Year: Presented to a teacher who shows true leadership and dedication to his/her group of students. The winner of this award continually goes “the extra mile” to ensure a safe, enjoyable and educational experience for all students.

• David Kelly, VRC Team 134 from Pembroke Academy, in Pembroke, N.H.
• Melissa Fernandez, VRC Team 619A, Mecha Makos, from MAST Academy in Miami, Fla.

Volunteer of the Year: Given to an outstanding event volunteer.

• Jim Musil, from Omaha Public Schools, in Omaha, Neb.
• Martha Proulx, VRC Team 5900, from Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Fla.

STEM Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• Steve Sanghi, Founder and CEO, Microchip Technology
• Daniela Rodriguez, Student, Miami, Fla.

For those looking forward to getting a jump on next year’s robot designs, the 2013/2014 VEX Robotics Competition and College Challenge game will be VEX Toss Up. VEX Toss Up is played on a 12 ft. x 12 ft. foam-mat, surrounded by a sheet-metal and Lexan perimeter. The field includes hexagonal-shaped Lexan goals, a sheet metal bump, hanging bars and a PVC and sheet metal fence. Teams score points by scoring BuckyBalls and large balls into goals or by placing them in different zones on the field. Points are also scored for robots that are hanging at the end of the match.

Partners and sponsors of the 2013 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship include the Northrop Grumman Foundation, Autodesk, Chevron, EMC, Go Daddy.com, Innovation First International, Microchip, NASA, and Texas Instruments. In addition, VEX Robotics continually reaches students in the classroom through key partnerships with notable education-based organizations, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Technology Students Association (TSA).

About REC Foundation

The REC Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry, and the non-profit community to achieve this work. For more information on REC Foundation, visit www.roboticseducation.org.

About VEX Robotics

VEX Robotics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Innovation First International, is a leading provider of educational and competitive robotics products to middle schools, high schools, colleges and robotics teams around the world. The VEX Robotics Design System, winner of the 2006 Best of Innovations Award at CES, was built from the ground up and designed to be an affordable, accessible and scalable platform used to teach science, technology, engineering and math education worldwide. The VEXpro product line, designed for large scale competitive robots, gives robotics enthusiasts superior performance for less cost. The company has over 250 man years of experience supporting educational robotics programs and extensive engineering resources on two continents dedicated to the VEX Robotics platform. For more information on VEX Robotics, visit www.vexrobotics.com.

Over 200 Baltimore city students are putting their VEX Robotics engineering prowess to good use today during the 2012 BCPSS Summer Robotics Olympiad in Timonium, MD.  The Olympiad is the culminating event for these students who are part of Baltimore’s 5-week “Create the Solution” summer VEX Robotics program.  When the Summer Olympiad closes today at 5:30 PM, the winning alliance will go home with the title of 2012 BCPSS Summer Robotics Olympiad Tournament Champion.

Baltimore’s “Create the Solution” summer program is one of several high-quality summer learning programs recognized by the National Summer Learning Association for providing an unequal summer learning environment to students in at-risk communities.  The Baltimore City Public School System added the VEX Robotics platform to its summer offerings in 2010 as part of a system-wide summer school revamp aimed at reducing the learning loss in the math and science disciplines by the city’s students.  The VEX Robotics program is one of several “Create the Solution” summer programs being offered this year to increase the achievement of Baltimore’s students.

Additional information about today’s 2012 Summer Robotics Olympiad can be found at http://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition/baltimore-city-schools-robotics-olympiad.html

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., April 23, 2012 – The Golden State grew a bit brighter this weekend as more than 10,000 participants comprised of middle school, high school and university students, educators and team mentors from nearly 20 countries around the globe showcased their smarts in the fierce three-day 2012 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship at the Anaheim Convention Center. After the final points were tallied, the winning alliance from each division was comprised of teams from Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the United States, who took home the coveted World Championship trophies.

Six hundred of the nearly 5,000 VEX Robotics Competition teams qualified to face-off in the robot ring against their toughest competitors at this year’s VEX Robotics Competition World Championship after battling in more than 300 local, regional and national tournaments around the world during the season. Beginning on Thursday, the global competition kicked off with preliminary qualification rounds. Friday morning, students took part in the opening ceremonies parade of nations, bearing their respective countries’ brilliant flags, followed by a series of intense head-to-head matches throughout the afternoon. The festivities reached a crescendo on Saturday as the division champion alliances worked together to defeat their competition in the Finals. Kicking-off the Finals, participants were set aglow by iLuminate, the awe-inspiring dance-in-the-dark sensation that took audiences by storm last summer on the hit television series “America’s Got Talent.” The performance was led by Miral Kotb, iLuminate founder and software engineer who developed the patent-pending wireless lighting technology.

The Tournament Champion Alliance from the Middle School Division was comprised of team 8066A, Atom, from Singapore; team 5199A, Shanghai Shibei Junior Middle School, from Shanghai, China; and team 2300B, Robinson Middle School B, from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Tournament Champion Alliance from the High School Division was comprised of team 569, NHRC, from Murrieta, Calif.; team 2900A, SymbiOHsis, from Auckland, New Zealand; and team 2W, Robosavages, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Tournament Champion from the College Division was team TGTZ1, from La Universidad Tecnológica de Gutierrez Zamora, in Veracruz, Mexico.

In addition, one team from each of the three divisions was presented with an Excellence Award, the highest honor in the VEX Robotics Competition, given to the teams with the most well-rounded VEX Robotics Program. Team 2177, The F.I.V.E, from Oconomowoc, Wis. took home the Middle School Excellence Award; team 3018, Techna Pwn Robotics, from Council Bluffs, Iowa took home the High School Excellence Award; and team TSM1, Semex1, from Tejupilco, Mexico took home the College Division Excellence Award.

“We worked so hard to get here, and our whole team rose to the challenge that was before us in ways we didn’t even know were possible,” said Vinayak Pillai from team 569, NHRC, part of the High School Division Tournament Champion Alliance from Murrieta, Calif. “Each year VEX Worlds gets bigger, becomes more impressive, and the competition gets fiercer. Even if we didn’t win today, this event is something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”

“It is so inspiring to see the high-level of energy, dedication and professionalism that teams from around the world bring into the arena at the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship,” said Jason Morrella, president of the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation. “If the excitement we see each year at the VEX Robotics Competitions is anything compared to these kids’ in-classroom fervor for science, technology, engineering and math, these students are destined to succeed in any STEM related career of their choosing and become the leaders and innovators of our future.”

When students were not competing in the robot ring, they had the once-in-a-lifetime the chance to meet Nobel Prize Award Winner and Stanford University Professor Emeritus of Physics, Dr. Douglas D. Osheroff, who was present signing autographs and taking pictures alongside a VEX Claw Bot that held the gold medallion. Attendees were also inspired by replicas of NASA’s famous Mars Exploration Rovers Curiosity and Opportunity, which were on display during all three days of the competition. Additionally, FutureLab: The Innovation Expo gave young students hands on learning experiences to encourage them to consider studying scientific and technological ideas and processes involved with nanotechnology, deep space exploration, robotics, alternate energy, virtual reality and human genomics.

For those competitors eager to get a jump on next year’s robot designs, the 2012/2013 VEX Robotics Competition game Sack Attack was unveiled at the tournament on Saturday afternoon. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent by picking up colored bean bags and placing them in a scoring trough that runs the length of the field. Robots will also gain points for finishing in designated areas at the end of a match.

Partners and sponsors of the 2012 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship include Autodesk, NASA, EMC Corporation, the Northrop Grumman Foundation, Microchip Technology, intelitek, Robotics Academy at Carnegie Mellon University, Innovation First International, the United States Coast Guard Academy, the Technology Student Association, the CREATE Foundation and the FUTURE Foundation. In addition, VEX Robotics continually reaches students in the classroom through key partnerships with notable education-based organizations, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Technology Students Association (TSA).

In addition to the Excellence Awards and Middle School, High School and College Champion titles, several other technical and value-based awards were presented to the below listed teams and individuals in each program for excelling in the following categories:

Excellence:

• Team 3018, Techna Pwn Robotics, from Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Team 1200C, Technical Breakdown, from Neenah, Wisc
• Team 1069E, Critical Mass, from Berthoud, Colo.
• Team 4109, 808 Robotics, Pearl City, Hawaii
• Team 2177, The F.I.V.E., from Oconomowoc, Wisc.
• Team 169Y, The Cavalry, from Haverford, Pa.
• Team TSM1, Semex1, Tejupilco, Mexico

Amaze

• Team 720P, aMAX, from North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand
• Team 3057, Tenacious Tech, Mendham, N.J.
• Team 1900W, Team GMA, College Park, Ga.
• Team 404D, ECR 404D, from Woodland Hills, Calif.
• Team 6966A, GONBOTZ, from Mexico
• Team 80X, VEXMEN:X-23, from Exton, Pa.
• Team TSEL, Selva, from Chiapas, Mexico

Build

• Team 918B, Panther Bots, from Las Vegas, Nev.
• Team 8066B, Zeus, from Singapore
• Team 355B, APEX, from Batavia, Ill.
• Team 2205A, The Pioneers, from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
• Team 10D, Exothermic Imension, from Redmond, Wash.
• Team 1069D, Palladium, from Berthoud, Colo.
• Team MESS, aMEss, from North Shore City, New Zealand

Community

• Team 8058A, The Future, from Singapore
• Team 2931B, Prime, from Auckland, New Zealand
• Team 36, Unidentified, from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
• Team 81A, VEXMEN: Apocalypse, from Downingtown, Pa.
• Team 4191, Raptor Robotics, from Monticello, Utah
• Team 542, WSH Robotics, from Cerritos, Calif.

Create

• Team 8066C, Thor, from Singapore
• Team 1001E, Comet Tech, from Greentown, Ind.
• Team 2091, FMHS Robotics, from Flower Mound, Texas
• Team 44, Green Egg Robotics, from Oakham, Mass.
• Team 974, Hazardous, from Loveland, Colo.
• Team 1471A, the Third Wave, from Fountain Hills, Ariz.
• Team USU, Utah State University, from Logan, Utah

Design

• Team 3876C, Arkham Asylum Members, from Longmont, Colo.
• Team 3946A, Sun Devils, from Englewood, Colo.

Educate

• Team 359A, Hawaiian Kids, from Waialua, Hawaii
• Team 2273, Caribbean School – ADV MS, from Ponce, Puerto Rico

Energy

• Team 1360, Vibots, from Brandon, Fla.
• Team 80N, VEXMEN: Nightcrawler, from Exton, Pa.
• Team 4740B, Elroudah2Robots, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Team 5589A, Wesley1, from Hong Kong
• Team 687N, Cams, from Carson, Calif.
• Team 675A, RoboDragons, from Lawrenceville, Ga.

Innovate

• Team 8066B, Zues, from Singapore
• Team 575, Exothermic Haiku, from Redmond, Wash.
• Team PVTO, Valle De Toluca from Santiaguito Tlalcilalcali Almoloya De Juarez, Mexico

Inspire

• Team 24C, Super Sonic Sparks C, from New Windsor, Md.

Judges’

• Team 4318B, Bahrain Unified Team 1, from Manama, Bahrain
• Team 4131A, Bears, from Mexico City, Mexico
• Team 3685B, Searider Robotics, from Waianae, Hawaii
• Team 1241X, Theory6 Robotics, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
• Team 5225A, E-Bots â•¥ – ions, from Ontario, Canada
• Team 3116, Control Freaks, from Stevenage, United Kingdom
• Team KTOR, Knights of the Olde Robotic, from Exton, Pa.

Promote

• Team 1118 and 1119, Sweetch Robotics, from Mexico City, Mexico

Sportsmanship

• Team 12W, Acme-VEXcellence, from McLean, Va.
• Team 8061D, Thundercat9, from Singapore
• Team 2921, Free Range Robotics, from North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand
• Team 2218B, UGHS Blackhawks, from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Team 2218A, UGHS Whitehawks, from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Team 2213D, Lucchetti Robotic, from Arecibo, Puerto Rico
• Team NYIT, Bears, from Old Westbury, N.Y.

Support

• Team 8068A, Isotope, from Singapore
• Team 2281, MASTER1 Robotics Team Inc., from Morovis, Puerto Rico
• Team 2213A, Lucchetti Robotic, from Arecibo, Puerto Rico
• Team 7008B, PROROBE, from Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Team 1200B, Mainframe Meltdown, from Neenah, Wis.
• Team 2243B, Cupeyville School, from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Teamwork

• Team 4119A, Kohala Middle School, from Kapaau, Hawaii
• Team 394, Highlands Inter Robotics, from Pearl City, Hawaii
• Team 1437Z, Patriot Robotics, from Calabasas, Calif.
• Team 169A, The Cavalry, from Haverford, Pa.
• Team 2616, Army of Two, from Cherry Hill, N.J.
• Team 2616B, Black Tie Robotics, from Cherry Hill, N.J.

Think

• Team 394B, Highlands Inter Robotics, from Pearl City, Hawaii
• Team 4057C, SES-TSAN, from Hong Kong
• Team 3129A, Green MacHHHHine,vfrom Mountain View, Calif.
• Team 677, Montclair Robotics, from Montclair, N.J.
• Team 1241Q, THEORY6, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
• Team 79C, Krunch, from Tarpon Springs, Fla.
• Team TFVZ, TSM2, from Tejupilco, Mexico

Robot Skills Champion

• Team 8066A, Atom, from Singapore

Programming Skills Champion

• Team 8061B, Leo8, from Singapore

Autodesk Inventor Digital Prototyping Challenge

• Team 550, AURA from Auckland, New Zealand

FUTURE Foundation Robot Construction Challenge

• Team 341, Iron Eagles, from Severn, Md.

EMC Robotics Team/Club Website Challenge

• Team 254, Cheesy Poofs, from San Jose, Calif.

RECF Team Educational Video

• Team 3129A, Green MacHHHHine, Mountain View, Calif.

VRC Game Design Animation Challenge

• Team 575, Exothermic Haiku, from Redmond, Wash.

Mentor of the Year

• Betsy Lamb from Vextreme Velocity in Cranbrook, Mich.
• Greg Cheslock from St. Mary Central High School in Neenah, Wisc.

Partner of the Year

• Frank Flores accepted on behalf of the Northrop Grumman Foundation

Teacher of the Year

• Alan Alessi from Team 2273, Caribbean School, Puerto Rico
• Megan Connolly from Team 169, The Cavalry, from Haverford Pa.

Volunteer of the Year

• Art Kimura & Renee Kimura from Hawaii
• Bart Nash from Carver Robotics Club in Leesburg, Fl.
• Greg Phillips from Governor Simcoe Secondary School in Ontario, Canada

STEM Hall of Fame Inductees

• Dave Lavery, Program Executive for Solar System Exploration, NASA
• Dr. Douglas Osheroff, co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics, Professor at the Department of Physics at Stanford University
• Miral Kotb, founder of iLuminate

For more information about the VEX Robotics World Championship and this year’s award winners, please visit RobotEvents.com/championship.

About REC Foundation

The REC Foundation, standing for Robotics Education and Competition, is a 501© (3) non-profit organization, supports robotics and technology events and programs that aim to inspire and motivate students to advance in STEM education. In addition to supporting competitions for some of the world’s leading robotics platforms and organizations including VEX, TSA, BOTBALL and BEST, the foundation also provides program support and workshops focused on technology and professional development for educators – including the RobotEvents.com community portal website which helps promote multiple high quality programs and provides online registration and event pages for hundreds of events around the world.

About VEX Robotics

VEX Robotics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Innovation First International, is a leading provider of educational robotics products to middle schools, high schools and colleges around the world. The VEX Robotics Design System, winner of the 2006 Best of Innovations Award at CES, was built from the ground up and designed to be an affordable, accessible and scalable platform used to teach science, technology, engineering and math education worldwide. The company has over 250 man years of experience supporting educational robotics programs and extensive engineering resources on two continents dedicated to the VEX Robotics platform. For more information on the VEX Robotics Design System, visit www.vexrobotics.com.

Download the full PDF of this press release here.

“We had an impressive slate of nominees again this year which illustrates the depth of talent and leadership in our tech community,” said Gordon Prouty, publisher of TechFlash and its sister publication, Puget Sound Business Journal. “We started this program two years ago because we believe it’s important to recognize local innovation and to honor the people and companies behind the headlines.”

W.A.S.A.B.I. Robotics is composed of an elite group of high school students that is dedicated to competing in robotics at the highest levels and spreading awareness regarding robotics and STEM education throughout the Bellevue and Seattle area. They were honored for receiving 1^st place at the 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship in Florida. Additionally, they won two first place awards and the tournament championship at a Space Elevator/ Robotics conference in August and another first place at the Jumpstart Tournament at Redmond High School in November. The team includes Isaku Kamada, Kevin Tam, Ryan Badiee, Julie Eng, Akash Gupta, Grace Hsieh, Kevin Li and Zane Zook. W.A.S.A.B.I is primarily funded by Big Brains Education, a tutoring and supplemental education organization located in Bellevue, WA, along with private donations and matching funds from Microsoft.

David Zook, the team’s advisor said, “I am so proud of this group of kids and their ability, focus, desire and passion. It’s wonderful to see them getting the recognition they deserve for their hard work. This award is a testament to just how special they are.”

Visit WASABI Robotics on the web at http://tinyurl.com/wasabi-robotics

On Wednesday, October 12, teams from the FBI, the U.S. Army, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County sheriff's department, and other regions came together at State Fair Park for the annual Bomb Squad Rodeo. During the event, teams were required to participate in five different scenarios that had real-life applications.

One of the scenarios had teams open up a bathroom door and locate a backpack hidden inside of the facility, the news source reported. This particular test demonstrated a machine's ability to operate without the physical assistance of a human, which is like real life since the robots are usually controlled remotely from a safe distance away.

Another scenario involved the machines retrieving a cup of water and pouring it into a jug by itself. Many of the participants found this challenge to be the most difficult and important of the five. This is because it shows how delicate and flexible a robot is, which is important because sometimes a robot may be required to carry an individual away from a dangerous situation. However, since some of the devices can easily snap a human bone, the delicacy of the action is the most important, according to News Oklahoma.

Despite the complex technology and competitive spirit on display, the event retains a friendly environment because it's for a good cause: safety.

"For the most part, we all use the same type of equipment," Oklahoma City police captain, Dexter Nelson, told the news provider. "The reason for that is … if some other agency would need to use our equipment, they would already be familiar with it."

Other robots, like the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot, perform other safety tasks like navigating through collapsed mines to find injured people. This robot is less than two feet tall and can travel through 18 inches of water, according to TG Daily.

Whether operating in mine shafts or performing bomb removal tasks, innovations in robotics can help save lives.

For the first time ever, Dickinson held a robotics competition on October 15. Students and participants were introduced to the event on September 3, where they were given the rules and materials for the competition, the news source reported.

"It's an amazing event," Kasey Kessel, the coach from Trinity High School's robotics team, told the Dickinson Press. "You get the plywood, pipe, screws and nuts – the raw materials – now go build a robot."

The judging and scoring process is based on the construction and performance of the robot, as well as other areas where students can learn, such as marketing, interviewing and sportsmanship. The schools involved were encouraged to bring fans and engage with audience members to help their scores.

By participating in the event, students can learn the basics skills involved in the engineering process as well as the design and building procedures of building a robot. More than 17 teams participated in the event, according to the Press.

"What people don't realize is that engineers sometimes fail and go back to the drawing board – that's part of the process," Paul Johanson, the chairman of the Dickinson State University department of math and computer science, told the news source.

DSU organized the event with money from a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education grant.

These types of robotics events are held all around the country. For example, high school students prepared for weeks for the recent T-Robo Competition and Geek Fest at Western Technical College's Branch Campus in El Paso. This event also demonstrated the necessity of STEM, according to the El Paso Times.

The point of many of these competitions is to show the importance of math and technology, as well as the fact that learning these sciences can be a fun and engaging process.

Originally founded in 1993, BEST is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science, technology, mathematics and science education in the hopes of inspiring youth to pursue careers in related fields. Beginning with a membership of just over 200 students from a dozen schools, the volunteer-based program now partners with 700 schools and more than 10,000 students, according to the BEST website.

Over the next few weeks, robotics teams from schools across Alabama will get their chance to compete. Students from Hoover, Alabama, recently tested out their creations at a local mall, according to Alabama Live.

"Not only do they learn what engineers do, they learn the engineering process," University of Alabama at Birmingham professor Hassan Moore told the news outlet. "You design something, test it [and] redesign it."

According to the news provider, Hoover students have been tasked with designing remote controlled robots capable of locating and retrieving several "bugs" laid across bumpy, challenging terrain. Just miles away, students from Pell City High School are finalizing their own plans for the competition.

"The whole concept behind BUGS! is that the teams engineer and build a robot that can safely and quickly capture and contain different species of bugs and provide them with food," Central Alabama BEST hub director Brian Gann told the Daily Home.

The six-week process leading up to the competition will promote skill development in a variety of areas. According to the Daily Home, contestants will work with wide range of statistical and design software when creating and testing their robots. But they will also be asked to compile and present a marketing presentation explaining their creative process to a panel of judges.

"It is a comprehensive program that gives students the opportunity to learn critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and other leadership skills," Gann told the news source. "It is truly a workforce development project."

The robotics competitions are just a few of the technology initiatives popping up across the region. In Alabama's quest to become a research and development hub for leading engineering operations, developers are already halfway to completion on a state-of-the-art robotics park. Alabama Live is also reporting that a number of ideas and collaborative partnerships may have been generated at the recent Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference.

NASA and WPI recently opened the robotics contest submission period, encouraging teams to showcase their technical expertise and compete for a potential $1.5 million in prize money.

"NASA's Centennial Challenges competitions engage teams from across the country to solve the technology hurdles NASA faces as we explore new frontiers," said agency spokesman Mike Gazarik. "We're looking forward to teams registering to compete, so they can unleash their creative problem-solvers to take on this robotic technology challenge."

The objective of the robotics competition is simple, but its execution is anything but. Robots will be tasked with autonomously locating and retrieving geologic samples across a challenging array of terrain. The lessons learned from this event may have important implications for robotic manipulation and automatic navigation capabilities. NASA already has plans to employ these features in exploratory missions throughout the Solar System.

Earlier this month, the government agency announced a $1.61 billion contract to companies aiding in the developing of a private "space taxi" program, according to Space.com.

"This is a significant step forward in America's amazing story of space exploration," NASA officials said. "It's further evidence we are committed to fully implementing our plan to outsource our space transportation so NASA can focus its energy and resources on deep space exploration."

But despite the space exploration theme surrounding the event, manufacturers can leverage the technology on display for a number of useful pursuits here on Earth as well.

Last month, military robotics researchers were keenly observing developments at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems annual North American conference in Washington, D.C. According to PhysOrg, the Office of Naval Research took the opportunity to debut its first fully autonomous robot in addition to an unmanned underwater vehicle. And just a few hundred miles to the north, U.S. Marines were testing a robotic truck on proving grounds just outside of Pittsburgh.

Robotics competitions such as the Sample Return Robot Challenge provide an important platform for a number of initiatives. First, by testing their knowledge and skills, engineers can refine their creation and gain insight from real-world feedback. Secondly, these events attract robotics stakeholders from all sectors, and the direct and indirect networking that occurs at these conferences is often capable of producing powerful and important collaboration within the industry.

RoboBowl is a unique event on the robotics industry calendar as the competition is geared toward venture investment into emerging concepts. The entrepreneurial spirit is expected to be alive and well on competition day as the audience observes next-generation technology displays that could spur innovative commercial applications and a wave of new job opportunities.

"Answers to the most critical challenges facing the U.S. today will come from the creativity, dedication and passion of entrepreneurs and inventors who utilize next-generation robotics technology to innovate breakthrough solutions," Robotics Technology Consortium spokeswoman Helen Greiner told Escapist Magazine.

The event could provide the inspiration needed to shift robotics away from hobbyists and more toward mainstream, functional, commercial applications. Exciting inventions such as astronaut robots are all well and good, but the consumer marketplace for robotics applications has remained largely untapped.

"While significant progress has been made in the research and development of next-generation robotics technologies, commercialization efforts are still relatively nascent," industry expert, Jared Cohon, told the news outlet.

Event organizers are sparing no expense with incentives. Each finalist will receive a $5,000 cash prize, with the ultimate victor claiming a $20,000 bonus prize. The judging panel is also comprised of private investors, venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs who are all readily capable of identifying revolutionary concepts and paying top dollar to nurture their development.

The upcoming edition of RoboBowl will be held at the Quality of Life Technology center, a site jointly run by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. QoLT was created as a National Science Foundation Engineering and Research Center geared toward the development of technology that could address common issues experienced by elderly populations.

Not surprisingly, this year's competition will focus primarily on robotics applications for the healthcare sector. Popular competition segments are expected to include robotic surgery and rehabilitation systems that make use of prosthetics. However, less established categories such as robotic telemedicine and hospital logistics automation may provide the most innovative uses of the technology.

As the students' summer break came to an end, an important educational initiative was reaching its finale as well. Over the mid-year recess, more than 40 students from Wiesbaden High School were engaged in a long-awaited engineering summer camp that culminated in an engaging robotics competition.

"We talked about doing this for a number of years," noted camp director, Frank Pendzich, in a statement released by the Army. "[We focused upon] giving a broader range of students an opportunity to learn more about science, technology, math and engineering."

Pendzich had prior experience with robotics competitions but decided to approach this program with a somewhat unique strategy. The Wiesbaden summer program was focused on a more holistic mode of thought expected to develop creative problem solving skills that will serve students well in a variety of pursuits.

Instead of starting the program with discussion and memorization of technically challenging scientific principles, the camp began with team-building activities and abstract problem-solving exercises.

"The world needs more people who know how to problem solve – people with different ideas," said camp volunteer, Casey Mann. "As future engineers, we have to have the mindset that there's more than one solution."

According to Stars and Stripes, the Department of Defense Education Activity is looking to make good on President Obama's promise to redouble efforts in American science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. The Wiesbaden robotics club is just one success story from the DODEA school system.

As part of a new pilot program, the agency will offer at least one class in robotics engineering, biotechnology, engineering, gaming technology or green technology in 11 of its schools across the United States, Europe and the Pacific, according to the source. School administrators have already invested more than $1 million in the development of the curriculum and intend to keep it standardized across all DODEA campuses. If deemed successful, organizers are optimistic that the program can be extended to more schools in the near future.

By providing hands-on, engaging outlets for STEM learning, educators are doing much more than simply ensuring students will be able to find jobs after graduation. These dedicated teachers are ensuring the next generation of robotics engineers will be equipped to solve previously unimaginable challenges and lead the nation into a new era of innovation.