Robotics Education & Competition Foundation logo
Scholarships

Joan Pransky Scholarship

Description
Joanne Pransky sits next to a robot.
Information
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 1; September 1

Joanne Pransky made an impact on countless young women in robotics during her life. As ‘The World’s First Robot Psychiatrist,’ modeled after Isaac Asimov’s Susan Calvin from the iRobot stories, Joanne brought the social side of robots to the forefront, long before robots were at all common. Joanne served as a mentor and inspiration for many young women and girls who are often discouraged or pushed away from STEM fields including robotics and drones.

Applicants from High School to PhD, with five $1,000 awards each session.

Application
More Scholarships
Resources For Participants
Donate
Events
Privacy Policy Terms of Service Acceptable Use Policy
© Robotics Education & Competition Foundation. 2024. All rights reserved.

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
REC Foundation Logo White
VEX Robotics World Championship landscape logo
Robot Shipping Option
Freeman is our shipping partner for the VEX Robotics World Championship. Teams choosing to ship should ensure that their robots arrive on or AFTER May 5, 2025 to the Kay…
Judges observe participants at VEX Robotics World Championship
Volunteer | VEX Robotics World Championship
WE NEED PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU TO POWER THE VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! Whether you participate solo or with a group of friends, family, or coworkers, you’ll make a huge…