Local VEX Robotics Teams Win Awards, Qualify for State Championship

The Anderson Districts I & II Career & Technology Center recently attended the Palmetto Upstate VEX Robotics Qualifier at Sevier Middle School in Greenville. Teams from Upstate South Carolina middle and high-schools competed in this years VEX Robotics challenge Toss-Up. http://www.vexrobotics.com/wiki/index.php/Toss_Up The competition challenges teams to design, build, program, and drive a robot in a fast-paced 2 minute match to score points against the opposing alliance. Teams also document their build process, teamwork, design modifications, and community outreach. The Anderson Career & Technology Centers VEX team #415A was awarded the Design Award by the event judging team. The Design Award is presented to a team that demonstrates an organized and professional approach to the design process, project and time management, and team organization. The engineering notebook, design process documentation, and construction/function of the robot serve as the basis for this award. Team #415A members are: Thomas Berning (PVHS), Bryce Cotton (PVHS), Francisco DelValle (PVHS), Joe Prendergast (PVHS), Ryan Rumminger (WHS), Jacob Stokes (PVHS), and C.J. Wengert (PVHS). One of ACTCs rookie VEX teams #415B was the 2nd place event finalist and was also awarded the Excellence Award by the event judging team. The Excellence Award is the top VEX award given at events and is presented to the team that exemplifies overall excellence in creating a well-rounded VEX robotics program. This team excels in many areas and is a shining example of dedication, devotion, hard work, and teamwork. As a strong contender in numerous award categories, this team deserves to be recognized for building a quality robot and a team committed to quality in everything that they do. Receiving the Excellence Award qualifies the team to compete at the Palmetto State VEX Championship in March. Team #415B members are: Tristan Gill (PVHS), David Glover (PHS), Darien Hicks (WHS), Taylor Melton (PVHS), Tyler Roper (PHS), Julia Sequerth (PVHS), William Thompson (PVHS), Ethan Vogel (WHS), and Jacob Wooten (BHP). One of ACTCs other rookie VEX teams #415D was the Captain of the Event Winning Alliance. This team was ranked 1st at the end of the qualification matches and defeated the 4th alliance in the semi-finals and won out in the finals against the 2nd alliance. Being the winner from this event now qualifies the team to compete at the Palmetto State VEX Championship in March. Team 415D members are: Joel Alerre (WHS), Aaron Craine (PVHS), Jacob Finley (WHS), Steven Hernandez (PVHS), Jacob Kirchner (WHS), Paul Nelson (PVHS), Braden Phillips (PVHS), and Daniel White (PVHS). The next event for the ACTC VEX Robotics teams will be when ACTC hosts a VEX Qualifier at the school on January 18th. Team #415A and #415C will try to earn a bid to the Palmetto State VEX Championship at either this event or at the final qualification event being held in the SC Lowcountry in February. The ACTC VEX Robotics program is open to students from Belton-Honea Path High School, Palmetto High School, Powdersville High School, and Wren High School that attend the Career & Technology Center. The teams college mentors are Carolyn Lennon (Clemson), Kirtan Patel (TCTC), Stephen Roberts (Clemson), and Robert Sequerth (USC). The team mentors are ACTC Project Lead the Way Instructors Bryan Bacher, James Davis, Trevor Hollingsworth, Lisa Lennon, and Sean McCullough.