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Inspiration All Star

Art & Rene Kimura

About
STEM Hall of Fame profile picture for Art & Rene Kimura inducted in 2012.
Details
Wisdom: We are so humbled to be able to represent the many hundreds of mentors, volunteers, teachers, and coaches in Hawaii who give so much time, enthusiasm, and vision to students--all of whom are our 'Volunteers of the Year.'
Award: Volunteer of the Year
Year: 2012
Organization: Hawaii Space Grant Consortium; University of Hawaii at Manoa
Location: Hawaii

Education Specialists, Hawaii Space Grant Consortium (NASA), Living Treasures of Hawaii Award, Scholastic robotics since 2000. Art: University of Hawaii (Manoa), M.Ed., NASA Teacher in Space Project (Hawaii), Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Rene: University of Hawaii (Manoa) B.A. History. Women in Aerospace National Educator Award.

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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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