In a remarkable display of engineering prowess, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students took center stage at the VEX Robotics Southern Maryland VRC Tournament on January 21, hosted at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata. The competition united middle and high school teams across the region, highlighting their technical skills, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities in a challenging and collaborative environment.
Leading the charge to victory, the Thomas Stone High School team, Kaizen, in collaboration with the SMRC Marauders, a community-based team, clinched the tournament championship. This triumph secured their spot at the state competition, scheduled for March 1 and 2 at Dundalk High School in Baltimore. Guided by Miley Winters, a technology education teacher at Stone, the Kaizen team members — sophomores Mitchel Bose-Cruz, Christopher Hill, and Blake Testerman — demonstrated exceptional skill and strategic thinking throughout the tournament.
Not to be outdone, the Disco Ducks of Piccowaxen Middle School also earned their advancement to the state competition, set for February 17 at Hereford Middle School in Baltimore. Comprising eighth graders Kai Scott, Elijah Merkle, and Marcellus White, along with seventh graders Liam Gibney and Drake Scott, the Disco Ducks showcased their robotics expertise under the mentorship of Melissa Scott, a learning resource teacher at Piccowaxen and General Smallwood middle schools.
The tournament was a venue for competition and a celebration of ingenuity and sportsmanship, as evidenced by the array of awards garnered by other CCPS teams. The Disco Ducks received the Excellence Award for middle school, a testament to their outstanding overall performance. La Plata High School’s The Boehm of Our Existence was recognized with the Design Award for their innovative robot design. The Fantastic Falcons from Theodore G. Davis Middle School took home the Judges Award. At the same time, the Warriors from La Plata were honored with the Innovate Award for their creative solution to the game’s challenges. The Build Award went to The Vexagons of John Hanson Middle School for their exceptional construction skills, and the Create Award was bestowed upon the Rizzinators from Piccowaxen, highlighting their imaginative approach to robotics. Lastly, the Circuit Breakers I from Westlake High School were celebrated with the Sportsmanship Award, exemplifying their fair play and camaraderie throughout the tournament.
The excitement around robotics in Charles County is set to continue with the upcoming VEX IQ competition, tailored for elementary and middle school students. This event, scheduled for February 3 at Great Mills High School, promises another day of innovative designs and competitive spirit among the younger cohort of budding engineers.
As CCPS students prepare for their next challenges, their achievements at the VEX Robotics Southern Maryland VRC Tournament stand as a testament to the district’s commitment to STEM education and the development of future technology leaders. The community eagerly anticipates their continued success at the state level and beyond, confident in these young competitors’ skills and dedication.
