Approximately 76 middle school students from eight school divisions across the Commonwealth participated in the 2024 GO TEC® VEX IQ Robotics Competition hosted at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) on March 28. Following competitive qualifier rounds, the CMS Robotics Team from Chatham Middle School emerged victorious with the highest average score.
“The second annual robotics competition at IALR built upon last year’s success and provided an entertaining, beneficial experience for the participants. This event underscores GO TEC’s commitment to introducing middle school students to growing career fields such as robotics and automation in a memorable way.” – Angela Rigney, GO TEC Director
An action-packed competition showcased VEX IQ Robots, built and controlled by students, in this year’s game, Full Volume. On a 6-by-8-foot field, students used robots to retrieve various sized, cube-shaped game pieces and place them into containers. Teams competed in a series of collaborative matches throughout the day, accumulating points through various scoring strategies. Top finishers received awards based on overall points standings, and various superlative awards were distributed as well. All participants received a participation medallion., all of which were created with laser cutters utilized in the GO TEC Career Connections curriculum.
Each team participated in seven matches throughout the day.
The GO TEC team, supported by IALR, facilitated the competition along with the following partners: Danville Otterbots, GO Virginia, the Virginia Digital Maritime Center and others, as well as school systems from the following localities:
- Charlotte County
- Danville City
- Franklin County
- Grayson County
- Martinsville City
- Mecklenburg County
- Pittsylvania County
- Wythe County
Student teams are currently or have at one time been enrolled in the GO TEC Career Connections middle school program, a hands-on career exploration curriculum that connects students to high-demand career pathways.
“It is so rewarding to see students take what they are learning in their GO TEC courses and apply it in an entertaining, competitive way.” – Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager
The robotics contest serves as a natural extension of GO TEC’s comprehensive approach to workforce training and talent development. Through a collaborative hub-and-spoke model involving K12 school systems, higher education institutions and industry partners, GO TEC delivers hands-on learning experiences across various stages of education.
Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) starts in middle school Career Connections Labs and continues through high school, dual-enrollment and postsecondary programs. GO TEC engages students in hands-on learning in high-demand career pathways such as precision machining, welding, IT and cybersecurity, robotics and automation, mechatronics and advanced materials. The program provides a sustainable talent pipeline for strategic industry sectors.
