Hamilton County robotics teams secure five spots at VEX IQ Worlds

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Hamilton County middle school robotics teams have once again showcased their talent on the big stage, securing five of the coveted 14 world-qualifying spots at the Indiana VEX IQ State Championship.

With over 400 middle school teams in the state – making Indiana the most competitive in the country – this achievement highlights the exceptional skill and dedication of these young engineers.

Indiana has been able to cultivate such a strong robotics presence thanks to TechPoint for Youth and their unwavering dedication to Indiana Robotics. Their support has played a crucial role in expanding STEM opportunities for students across the state, allowing Indiana to lead the nation in VEX IQ participation.

Creekside Middle School’s teams made a strong showing, with 46032E Minion Mechanics taking first place in the Teamwork Challenge and 46032E FrogBotz securing third place in Skills. Meanwhile, Clay Middle School also earned two world-qualifying spots, with 2529A Smiley winning the prestigious Design Award and 2529G Men In Black claiming the Build Award. Additionally, Hamilton Heights Middle School’s 214F Flaming Flamingos clinched third place in Teamwork, securing their invitation to Worlds.

These five teams will now advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship, set to take place May 12 to 14 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Competing at Worlds is an extraordinary opportunity, as Indiana teams are frequently featured on the global stage due to the state’s highly competitive nature in VEX IQ robotics.

As the teams prepare for this prestigious event, they are actively seeking sponsorships to help fund their journey. Community members and businesses interested in supporting these talented students can reach out to the respective coaches:

• Creekside Middle School – Coach Barbara Glenesk (bglenesk@ccs.k12.in.us)
• Clay Middle School – Coach Brandon Crawford (bcrawfor@ccs.k12.in.us)
• Hamilton Heights Middle School – Coach Lacy Bowyer (lbowyer@hhschuskies.org)

These young innovators represent the best of Hamilton County, and their achievements are a testament to their hard work, creativity, and passion for STEM. Congratulations to all the teams, and best of luck at Worlds.

(From left) Dalton Bunch, Evan Xie, Nathan Lu, Barb Glenesk, Ansh Shah, Urav Mohapatra, Omkrit Bisht, and Carson Bunch with the Teamwork Champion trophy.

Photos provided