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Impact Newsletter: December 2025

December 12, 2025
In this edition: Happy Holidays from RECF A Masterclass in Integrity and Teamwork Celebrating RECF Volunteers Nominate an Inspiration All-Star The Power of Partnership | Palmetto Part...
Impact Newsletter Graphic with REC Foundation logo.

2025-2026 Online Challenges Cycle 1 Winners Announced

December 10, 2025
Thank you to the students from all over the globe who participated in Cycle 1 of this season’s Online Challenges! Congratulations to all of these teams! Click the links below to view the winning e...
Online Challenges Winners Announced graphic

A Technical Glitch Sparked a Masterclass in Integrity and Teamwork

December 10, 2025
At a recent Kanawha County VEX IQ Robotics Competition in Charleston, West Virginia, a technical glitch turned into one of those unforgettable moments that remind everyone why robotics is about so mu...
Participants gather to help a team fix a glitch at a VEX IQ Robotics Competition event

Inspiration All Star Award Now Being Accepted

December 9, 2025
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 Inspiration All-Star Award. Please see the award description and links to the applications below. Feel free to pass this notice on to others in yo...

Partnerships Building Pathways: Palmetto Partners

December 7, 2025
“How can we get more kids involved in robotics?” That vital question, posed by Bob Couch and the group of South Carolina engineers and CEOs of Palmetto Partners in the early 2000s, laid the foundatio...
Carolina Countdown Signature Event logo

Building the Future: How Robotics and AI Are Powering Student Innovation at St. Andrew’s International School in Bangkok

November 13, 2025
For 17-year-old Mathias Paramel, what began as a hobby building radio-controlled (RC) planes has evolved into a passion for robotics, automation, and aviation. “My dad and I used to build drones toge...
St. Andrews robotics participant works on robot

Impact Newsletter: November 2025

November 12, 2025
In this edition: Building Career Pathways Through Robotics RECF Pre-Engineering and Robotics Industry Certifications How Robotics and AI Are Powering Student Innovation Ifeoluwa Ogunfolu...
Impact Newsletter Graphic with REC Foundation logo.

Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. Expands Robotics Opportunities for Students

November 6, 2025
Since 2022, the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. has partnered with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) to bring hands-on, classroom-based learning to life through the Factory Auto...
Mazda Foundation logo

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
VEX Robotics World Championship logo