Thirty VEX robotics teams from Charles County’s middle and high schools gathered at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) for the Southern Maryland VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) Tournament in a spirited showcase of engineering prowess and teamwork. This event marked a significant return to in-person robotics competition at the college, following a hiatus due to the pandemic.
Under the aegis of the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, the VEX Robotics Competition is the premier robotics program for middle and high school students globally. It boasts over 20,000 teams from 50 countries engaging in more than 1,700 global competitions. The competition challenges students each year with a new engineering task designed as a game. In this iteration, dubbed “Over Under,” participants were tasked with constructing innovative robots to score goals against an opposing alliance and elevate their robots by the match’s conclusion, all with the support of their teachers and mentors.
The College of Southern Maryland hosted the event at its La Plata Campus in late January, with the college’s competitive robotics team, the Talons, actively participating. The Talons, celebrated for their continued success at World Vex Competitions, contributed to the tournament’s success by volunteering as scorekeepers, referees, and judges. CSM faculty members also lent their expertise, serving as judges and hosts and aiding in field construction and cleanup.
The tournament culminated in a series of awards celebrating the ingenuity and spirit of the participants. The Excellence Award for high school went to the Southern Maryland Robotics Club (SMRC) Marauders, with the middle school equivalent awarded to the Disco Ducks from Piccowaxen Middle School. Tournament champions included the SMRC Marauders and Kaizen from Thomas Stone High School. Finalists featured the SMRC Lucky Duckies and the Disco Ducks again, showcasing the event’s competitive spirit.
Other notable awards included the Design Award to The Boehm of Our Existence from La Plata High School, the Robot Skills Champion to SMRC Lucky Duckies, and the Judges Award to Fantastic Falcons from Theodore G. Davis Middle School. Innovate, Build, Create, and Sportsmanship Awards highlighted the diverse talents across the participating teams, with Circuit Breakers 1 from Westlake High School receiving the Sportsmanship Award. The Volunteer of the Year Award was also bestowed upon The Stine Men for their invaluable contribution to the event.
The CSM Talons Robotics Team, renowned for their passion in designing, building, and programming robots, played a pivotal role in organizing and facilitating the competition. Their dedication to the field of robotics and their continued success at international competitions underscore their commitment to excellence in STEM education. For more information about the robotics programs at CSM, interested parties are encouraged to visit the college’s website.
This year’s Southern Maryland VRC Tournament not only celebrated the return of in-person robotics competitions but also showcased the remarkable talent and creativity of students from Charles County. Through their innovative designs and strategic gameplay, participants demonstrated the critical importance of STEM education and its boundless possibilities for the future.
