Congratulations, Middle School Robotics!

Once more, our robotics students have amazed us with their skills in building, coding, organization, and presentation. At this year’s LifePlus Middle School VEX Robotics Competition, our 1986T team won the Innovate Award and qualified for the upcoming National Competition, which will take place in Shanghai! “At TIS Robotics, we continue to inspire, challenge, and empower students,” says our Robotics Teacher, Mrs. Betty Mesfin. “Robotics is not just a program. It is a culture.”

"Robotics is not just a program. It is a culture."

Bringing this culture of challenge and empowerment to both the classroom and the field, our 1986T Middle School team had to meet high standards to receive the Innovate Award. They were required to:

• Submit a well-documented Engineering Notebook, highlighting a unique or innovate design aspect

• Show the design process from initial concept to execution

• Demonstrate effective teamwork, communication, and professionalism

• Clearly explain the robot design and strategy during the team interview

Each of these requirements challenged our students, as a team, to be extremely organized and detailed in their work, from the beginning of the design and building processes to the competition fields.

As our students look ahead to the National Competition in Shanghai, Mrs. Mesfin says they will face even greater challenges. They’ll compete against more experienced teams and be required to meet higher expectations in terms of precision, speed, consistency, and reliability. As students prepare for the competition, Mrs. Mesfin advises them to practice their coding skills and regularly drive their robots; to be creative, curious, and willing to try new ideas; and to continue practicing teamwork and keeping their Engineering Notebook up to date.

At the annual LifePlus Middle School VEX Robotics Competition, our two teams, 1986T and 1986X, competed diligently and made significant progress in their skills, knowledge, and confidence, which has certainly set our 1986T team up for a great run at the National Competition. “[The teams’] dedication to improving robot performance, developing effective game strategies, and mastering the engineering design process was clearly evident throughout the competition,” says Mrs. Mesfin. “These students are undoubtedly key players in the future of our robotics program.”

We are so proud of our students, who, even at this young age, are learning to master engineering and coding skills and how to apply them in real-life and high-pressure circumstances. “VEX Competitions are like real-world experiences. Students learn more by applying their skills in a competitive setting, testing themselves, and overcoming challenges. You don’t have to be an expert through the process. You learn, improve, and grow.”

Well done to both our teams, and congratulations to 1986T on winning the Innovation Award. Thank you, Mrs. Mesfin and Mr. Pentzek for supporting our students in their learning, enabling them to thrive at this year’s LifePlus competition. Thank you, also, Dr. Andy Platt, for chaperoning during the trip and offering appreciated guidance.

"VEX Competitions are like real-world experiences... You don't have to be an expert through the process. You learn, improve, and grow."