This year’s competition featured 32 students from Central Algoma, Korah, Superior Heights, WC Eaket, and White Pines. These teams spent several months designing, building, and programming robots to excel in tasks like securing rings, scoring strategically in positive and negative zones, and achieving the ultimate challenge: elevating their robots on a central structure.
The competition, structured as 2-on-2 matches with randomly assigned partners, required teams to strategize and communicate under tight time constraints. Judged by professionals from the engineering and business communities, the event highlighted not just technical excellence but also innovation, teamwork, and resilience.
Award Winners
Several awards were presented at the conclusion of the competition:
- Excellence Award: 128B from Korah, for outstanding performance in all competition aspects, including design, programming, and gameplay.
- Tournament Champions: Wicked Echo Charlie and Wicked Charlie Echo 2 from WC Eaket, recognized at the winning alliance at the end of the elimination playoff.
- Engineering Award: Cheese Graters from Central Algoma, honored for excellence across design, creativity, and technical execution.
- Robot Skills Champion: 128A from Korah, recognized for the best solo driver and autonomous coding performance.
Several teams, from Korah and WC Eaket, will be competing at a provincial qualifying event at Cambrian College on Saturday, January 10, 2025. This event provides them with a chance to advance further and potentially participate in additional competitions across the province, showcasing their skills on even larger stages.
The next exciting event on the ADSB VEX Robotics calendar is the elementary competition, Rapid Relay, scheduled for Saturday, January 18. This event promises to bring together some of the brightest young minds in the region, continuing the tradition of innovation and teamwork.
Family members, educators, and community leaders gathered to celebrate these remarkable young innovators. Attendees marveled at the ingenuity displayed throughout the event, with many impressed by the students’ ability to solve complex challenges in real time.
“We saw incredible growth in the build quality and problem-solving skills displayed this year. These students are learning, innovating, and achieving more every year,” said Mark Carlucci, ADSB VEX Robotics Coordinator.
“Robotics and coding aren't just the future—they are the present. These students are building the skills they need to lead in tomorrow's careers,” Carlucci added.
The High-Stakes Robotics Competition underscores the positive impact of STEM education, inspiring students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and innovate boldly. Events like this serve as a platform for future engineers, programmers, and leaders to shine.
The event was free and open to the public, offering the community a chance to engage with these rising stars in technology and innovation. The livestream replay can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfHSBQ3YGDs
Acknowledgments
This event was made possible through the generous support of Tenaris, the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie North, PEO - Algoma, and OACETT - Algoma, along with the dedication of students, mentors, teachers, and judges. Their contributions ensure the continued success of programs that shape tomorrow’s innovators.
About ADSB VEX Robotics
ADSB VEX Robotics is proud to be an open and accessible program, inviting students from schools across Algoma to participate. While advancing to higher levels of competition presents exciting challenges, getting started is both accessible and learnable for students and educators alike.
“We encourage everyone to consider joining us. Robotics offers an incredible opportunity to build both technical and interpersonal skills in a fun and competitive environment. It’s a journey of growth, learning, and innovation.”
For more information you can connect with your school’s principal or reach out to Mark Carlucci at [email protected].