Glenkirk Elementary School (Photo credit: Prince William County Schools.)Two robotics teams from Glenkirk Elementary School, Gainesville, Va., are headed to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the 2016 VEX Worlds - VEX IQ Challenge Elementary School Division competition.
The 2016 VEX Worlds, presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, brings together top robotics teams from across the United States, Canada, Colombia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay and South Korea.
“We're new to VEX robotics, and the fact that we have gotten so far is amazing!” Glenkirk Principal Lisa Gilkerson said. “These students are representing not only Glenkirk, but also Prince William County Schools, Virginia, and the United States in this competition!”
Robotics students, with guidance from their coach, Jen Caron, built robots using the VEX IQ robotics platform to solve engineering challenges, which are presented in the form of a game. VEX IQ Challenge teams work together scoring points in teamwork matches, and also display their robot’s skills individually in driver-controlled and autonomous skills challenges.
“Coaching the kids in robotics has been an amazing experience,” said Caron. “There are so many moments of excitement each and every time we meet and I am so proud of them for their accomplishments.”
Glenkirk fielded seven robotics teams, all of which qualified to compete at the statewide competition in Doswell, Va., February 19-20. Students not only built and programmed the robots themselves, but each team also created a design notebook explaining the process of designing, creating and programming their robot, specifically detailing challenges and successes. The notebooks are also judged at the competition.
By the end of that competition, one Glenkirk team placed second, two tied for fifth and another team won the Energy Award. Two of the teams performed so well at that event and previous challenges that they were invited to compete in the World competition.
“One of the goals of robotics—beyond the engineering and problem solving—is that the students learn the concept of ‘gracious professionalism,’” said Gilkerson. “Our students work as a team and support each other and other teams. Even the teams that aren't going are proud and excited for their teammates. We're hoping that even more students will want to be involved.”
Glenkirk Robotics teams are hosting multiple fundraising events to raise money to cover registration fees. For an updated list of events, please refer to the Glenkirk website at http://glenkirkes.schools.pwcs.edu/. Individuals or businesses who would like to sponsor the team or make a donation, should contact Lisa Gilkerson at gilkerls@pwcs.edu or Jen Caron at CaronJL@pwcs.edu.
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