Martin J. “Marty” Mechsner was a driving force behind the development of robotics teams and leagues in Southern California. He supported local initiatives and played a key role in the inaugural VEX World Championship at CSUN. Long before it gained national recognition as a critical need, he championed workforce development. Mechsner served as president and […]
B.S. Interior Design/Architecture & Resource Management, Virginia Tech; 2014 Advisor of Technology Student Association National Champions; 2014 Manatee County Bright Star Teaching Award
BS Electrical Engineering 1984, Virginia Tech; MS Electrical & Computer Engineering 1987, Johns Hopkins University; Robotics Engineer since 1999, General Dynamics Land Systems; Classroom Mentor (since 2006) & VEX Robotics Mentor (since 2008) , Hereford Zone Robotics – Hereford Middle School & High School, Baltimore County Schools, Parkton MD; FIRST Robotics Mentor since 2013, Highland […]
Dallas, TX – FEBRUARY 25, 2019 – The first-ever student robotics tournament in the Southeast region with robotics teams comprised of all Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, hosted by The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation in partnership with the NTID Regional STEM Center (NRSC), will be held March 2 at the North Carolina […]
Greenville, TX – April 20, 2015 – Over the weekend, more than 850 teams from 29 nations gathered at the Kentucky Exposition Center to compete with custom-built robots during three days of intense back-to-back matches. Teams sought to be crowned champions of VEX Worlds 2015, the culminating event of the season, presented by the Robotics […]
We are very excited to kick off a new blog series that will feature a Q&A with the strong women mentors, coaches, teachers, and more within VEX Robotics and CS-STEM that inspire our young girls to aim high when it comes to their goals. The first woman we are featuring is Mrs. Belt-Robinson. She teaches […]
The second annual Girl Powered Connect events took place at the 2018 VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky just a few weeks ago. Over +1,000 students, teachers and mentors attended worldwide. During the V5RC Girl Powered Connect, we had the pleasure of hosting Alie Ward, a Daytime Emmy Award-winning science correspondent for CBS’s “The […]
Organization: STEM Center of Excellence, Inc. State: Maryland How did you become interested in robotics? I began volunteering through my company, UPS, in 2013. I noticed the low participation of African-American students and volunteers and decided I could make a difference by volunteering. What made you want to start a team/work with students? I have […]
March is Women’s History Month! This month, we’re celebrating the trailblazers of the past and the current women in STEM who are making history by inspiring our robotics community and paving the way for the future. Read more about our women leaders below as they share their experiences, challenges, and thoughts for the next generation […]
During high school, I competed on a VEX Robotics team. During this time, I had many opportunities because I was part of this community. For example, my high school robotics coach also worked for NASA, which led to two field trips to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and an opportunity to talk with an […]
Cari Williams is a true example of a STEM Inspiration All-Star. As a strong and impactful woman in STEM she has inspired thousands to start and continue pursuing a passion in science, engineering, and computer science. She currently serves as the Computer Science and Engineering TOSA in Tustin Unified School District in Tustin, California. In […]
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 educator of 27 years for Pulaski Elementary School in Somerset, KY, received the Robert and Patricia Kern National Teacher of the Year award for […]
Greenville, TX – November 12, 2024 — The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) expands its partnership with Native American Tribes across the United States to address the technological and educational disparities that persist in many Indigenous communities with supporters such as Google.org and Amazon. The REC Foundation seeks to empower Indigenous students by providing […]
Having the robot and/or the notebook at the interview is allowed, however, it is important that the interview not become a prepared recitation of notebook contents, for example.
For McKenzie Koch, robotics has never just been about the competitions. It’s about growth, both on and off the competition field, by building skills, communities, and confidence. Now, as a soon-to-be college graduate and dedicated volunteer, she’s using her experience to inspire the next wave of young innovators in Kentucky and beyond. In high school, […]
For Nathan Matlack, robotics has always been more than just a hobby; it’s been a family affair and the foundation of his career. His journey began early, inspired by his mom, Kristi Matlack, who started the robotics program at their local school district and remains a coach today. Additionally, Kristi is part of the RECF’s esteemed […]
Casey Juliano, a librarian turned robotics coach, has emerged as a leader in the Nevada VIQRC community. With mentorship from Greenspun Junior High’s Matt Carberry, Juliano began coaching elementary teams and now leads six annually. She regularly mentors new coaches and Event Partners and hosts a yearly tournament designed specifically for novice teams. Her advocacy […]
The all-girls VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team 6855B Warrior VEX at The Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida is bringing new talent and representation to the world of robotics and a new spin on competitive sports. These six young Hispanic students have not only built a winning team making it all the way to […]
Greenville, TX – June 10, 2021: The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, and VEX Robotics hosted a first-of-its-kind global student competition, the Live Remote VEX Robotics World Championship on May 17-29, 2021, that showcased the incredible talent and skills of student competitors. With 12,693 participants, this revolutionary event was recognized by […]
The REC Foundation and Girl Powered initiative is dedicated to redefining the face of STEM, showcasing how women are changing the world and sharing opportunities for girls to get involved. We are excited to share news of the 2021 ConnectHER Film Festival as a way for interested teams to submit a film entry to the Girls in Tech category […]
Congratulations to the winners of the 2020-21 Girl Powered Online Challenge, sponsored by Google. The Girl Powered Online Challenge was created to show the robotics community at large just what it means to be a Girl Powered team! This season’s Girl Powered Online Challenge submissions were exceptionally compelling, engaging, and insightful, showcasing how teams experienced […]
Girl Powered is celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a light on women leaders in STEM! These inspirational figures have done amazing work and have impacted the industries they serve and helped pave the way for future female innovators to do the same. Read below to see what we’re talking about! We invite you to […]
Full Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech: Lisa Schultz of the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation On The 5 Leadership Lessons She Learned From Her Experience article courtesy of Authority Magazine. Lisa Schultz is the Director of Regional Operations at the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation. She applies her previous career experiences as […]
Lisa Schultz is the Director of Regional Operations at the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation. She applies her previous career experiences as a mechanical engineer and high school science and robotics teacher to provide educators and students with opportunities to develop their STEM skills through competitive robotics. Her passion is providing pathways and reducing […]
Meet Julianne Rodriguez, a high school senior who is passionate about STEM and using her robotics skills to help others. She’s currently a student pilot, and loves programming robots. During the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, many people in senior living facilities in her area were unable to see loved ones. To help connect people, […]
