Local Teams Qualify for the Oregon State VEX IQ Robotics Championship

Tournament volunteer Jacob Ganders (right) explains the match scoring to Will Smith and Elias Jensen of the “All Stars” team from The Dalles Middle School and Wasco County 4-H while their alliance partners from Salem’s Silverleaf school look on.

The Dalles, OR December 4, 2023 - Students from Hood River, The Dalles, and WyEast middle schools secured spots to the state championship at the Stuff the Turkey VEX IQ Robotics Tournament in The Dalles the weekend of November 18. These teams will qualify for the chance to showcase their skills at the Oregon State VEX IQ Robotics Championship in Sandy, Oregon, on Saturday, February 24th.

 This was the largest VEX IQ competition in Oregon with 35 registered teams from across the state. While two teams, Dracobot “Toothless” and Dracobot “Dragons”, from Portland, Oregon, nabbed the top Team Work Championship awards, Hood River Middle School team “CINOSS” earned the second place award and garnered an invitation to the state championship. 

 Teams “Disconauts” (TDMS & Wasco County 4-H) and “Arcade Tricksters” (WyEast Middle School) placed 6th and 7th in the Robot Skills Challenge and secured their state invitations. In the Robot Skills Challenge, teams showcased their programming and driving skills individually on the field in an attempt to secure tournament advancements.

Teams “Microfish” and “Disconauts” from The Dalles Middle School and Wasco County 4-H compete together in the VEX IQ “Stuff The Turkey” VIQRC Full Volume Tournament held in The Dalles on November 18. Pictured left to right: Lovie Brown, Edgar Castaneda, Kanin Nefzger, and Amy Morales. The Disconauts (Castaneda, Nefzger, and Will McAllister) will advance to the state championship in Sandy, Oregon, on February 24, 2024.

 “I’m so impressed with the students’ work. They stepped up to help with the tournament set up and took ownership of this whole event,” said Arron Varland, parent of 7th-grade robotics student Danner from TDMS.

 “To pull off an event of this size takes an army of volunteers. I’m so thankful our volunteers and partners at the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, CGCC Electrical and Mechanical Program, and Google helped in supporting this event,” said tournament organizer and 4-H robotics coach Lu Seapy.

 In the VEX IQ Competition, students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, build a robot to solve an engineering challenge that is presented each year in the form of a game. Teams work together to score points in Teamwork Matches and get to show off their skills individually in driver-controlled and programming Robot Skills Challenges.

The VEX IQ Competition fosters student development of teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, project management, and communication skills required to prepare them to become the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

 “Teamwork, problem-solving, and ingenuity are all on display at a VEX IQ Competition event and students develop these skills all year long by participating on a robotics team,” said Dan Mantz, CEO of the REC Foundation. “Together, with the support of educators, coaches, and mentors, we’re fostering students’ passion for STEM at a young age to ensure that we have a generation that is dedicated to creating discoveries and tackling life’s future challenges.”

 Individuals wishing to learn more about local robotics opportunities for students can contact Lu Seapy at seapyl@oregonstate.edu.