A robotics competition thrills students

Grace Moodie

Last December, I competed in the VEX IQ Competition in Wellington, New Zealand. The thrilling competition tests students' robotbuilding skills and encourages young people to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering,and math).

“The designs of the robots just blow my mind. I love the enthusiasm of the kids,”said Michelle HazelegerMollard,national operations manager of Kiwibots.Kiwibots,a nonprofit organization,sponsors annual robotics competitions in New Zealand. The group hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists and creative thinkers.

VEX IQ,which is based in Texas,produces robotbuilding materials that schools and clubs around the world purchase. The seemingly meaningless plastic pieces that come with the kits can be used to build the most unusual and amazing robots.“It's very challenging as things are always breaking.My advice for people wanting to try VEX IQ is to never give up. Things are always going to go wrong, but you can't give in,”said Ashton Thrupp, 11, who was placed third in the New Zealand competition.

VEX IQ gives students in elementary and middle schools worldwide an opportunity to think like scientists,build like engineers, and compete like athletes. New“games”are released each year. Competitors get six months to plan, create, and compete, hoping to make it all the way to the national competition.

Competitors participate in the following sections: double team games, driver skills, coding, engineering notebooks and interviews.“Kids learn to take disappointments, successes, and failures. It's an incredible learning experience,”said Stephan van Haren, a teacher representative for Kiwibots.

Reading Check

What's Ashton Thrupp's advice for people who want to try VEX IQ?

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