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Latest Updates

Congratulations to Project Lead the Way Teacher of the Year and RECF Volunteer Natasha Craft

January 24, 2024
While dedicated mentors abound at the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, it is rare that a volunteer is named Teacher of the Year. In December, Natasha Craft, a robotics coach and educato...

From Participant to Partner: Oscar McCullough

February 21, 2024
At the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (RECF) we are so lucky to have thousands of volunteers who tirelessly devote countless hours to making sure that events run smoothly. One of those...
Oscar DeVon McCullough profile picture

2024 Online Challenges Winners Announced

March 15, 2024
Thank you to the students from all over the globe who participated in this season’s Online Challenges! We are so impressed by all of the entries we received, and we are thrilled to share the 20...
Online Challenges Winners Announced graphic

The Aerial Drone Competition: Largest Student Drone Program in the US Soars to New Educational Heights

November 18, 2024
Greenville, TX – November 18, 2024 –  Another exciting and educational drone season has begun for thousands of middle and high schools nationwide. The Aerial Drone Competition’s Mission 2025: Gr...
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The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation is GuideStar Gold Certified!

October 22, 2024
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation is proud to share that we’ve earned our 2024 Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid, a leading nonprofit research and data center formed in 2019 whe...

Meshing Gears with Omar Cortez

October 10, 2024
I told the kids, ‘I want you guys to explore different careers so you can find something that you’re going to wake up excited about.’ I love what I do. And through that, I think through my pass...
Omar shows his book, Mashed Gears

2022 Online Challenges Winners Announced

February 23, 2022
Great job to all students from all over the globe who participated in this year’s 2022 Online Challenges! We are so proud of all the entries we saw and we are excited to share this year’s...
Online Challenges Winners Announced graphic

Black History Month 2022 Feature: Rodney Williams

February 8, 2022
Organization: South Panola High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Mississippi Squadron 081 (MS-081) State: Mississippi How did you become interested in robotics? My int...
Rodney Williams profile picture

2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
Crowd watches the Signature Event in Minnesota's Mall of America
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