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Road to VEX Worlds: The Hawaiian Kids, Waialua, Hawaii

March 2, 2016

Road to VEX Worlds is a weekly series featuring teams on their path to Louisville, Kentucky, on April 20-23, 2016, to compete with 1,000 teams from nearly 30 countries under one roof for one epic celebration as we crown the World Champions!

Team 359A, the Hawaiian Kids, from Waialua, Hawaii strives to compete at the highest level, maximizing the skills and synergy of the 3 robots on their alliance.

The team finds it challenging juggling schoolwork and personal life with the intense participation and commitment in the Waialua Robotics Program. The team members are able to work through some of their challenges with training and support on time management strategies, in addition to flexibility and support from their program mentors. Their hard work has paid off with wins in multiple robot tournaments, receiving the Excellence Award, and also Skills Challenge Awards.

At VEX Worlds, the team hopes to meet Paul Copioli, President of VEX Robotics and Jason Morella, President of the REC Foundation, as well as their fellow participants from around the world.

Their competition robot is currently in its third iteration and able to meet the game design challenges presented. The three members of the team are keen on continuing their education in and each one plans to major in a STEM related field as part of our post-secondary plans, namely Engineering.

For more information about team 359A, the Hawaiian Kids, visit: www.waialuarobotics.com

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.
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