Honolulu, HI – July 14, 2014 – Students from the following schools secured top honors at the International VEX Robotics Summer Gamesthat took place this past weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Students competed in the 2013-14 season games, VEX Robotics Competition (V5RC) Toss Up and VEX IQ Challenge Add It Up, while others participated in V5RC Skyrise, to be among the first to qualify for the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championship. The following teams received the Excellence Award in their respective divisions: Team 1879A, Sultana High School from California for VEX Robotics Competition (V5RC) Toss Up; Team 359A, Waialua High Intermediate School from Hawaii for V5RC Skyrise; and Team 4442B, Island Pacific Academy from Hawaii for VEX IQ Challenge Add It Up.
The event, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and the Friends of Hawaii Robotics, welcomed over 100 teams from seven countries and one territory, including: Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Lebanon, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. Students competed in the last official tournament of the 2013-14 competition seasons and the first official tournament of the 2014-15 competition seasons.
“Students stepped up to the challenge and the robots they designed and built were extremely competitive. The ideas they bring to life never cease to amaze us and display hands-on application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills, which will serve them well throughout their lives,” said Jason Morrella, president, REC Foundation.
“Months of work by dedicated volunteers culminated in an extraordinary tournament that featured three different robotics programs under one roof. We are so proud to have hosted this inaugural international event in order for hundreds of Hawaii students to compete against the best teams in the world. And, compete they did! Teams from around the state of Hawaii showed their expertise, utilizing real-world life skills, by winning their games as well as special awards. The Circle of Friends grew this weekend, and we look forward to greater support for Hawaii teams in the 2014-15 season,” said Lenny Klompus, president of Friends of Hawaii Robotics.
The overall International VEX Robotics Summer Games V5RC Tournament Champions and VEX IQ Challenge Teamwork Champions were as follows:
| V5RC Toss Up | V5RC Skyrise | VEX IQ Challenge Add It Up |
| Team 177Z, Twisted Botz, Virginia | Team 359A, Waialua High School, Hawaii | Team 434K, Molokai Middle School, Hawaii |
| Team 3815B, Mad Techs, New Jersey | Team 394, Highlands Intermediate Robotics, Hawaii | Team 4442B, Island Pacific Academy, Hawaii |
| Team 5212A, Infernos, Idaho | Team 4142B, Pearl City High School, Hawaii |
The event was sponsored and presented by Oceanic Time Warner Cable, the U.S. Navy, and supported by the Hawaii Convention Center, the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Verizon Wireless showcased VGo – a telepresence robot that helps expand the educational experience for students almost anywhere – and other innovative wireless education solutions.
The International VEX Robotics Summer Games accommodates the exponential growth of the VEX IQ Challenge and the VEX Robotics Competition, which includes more than 10,000 teams, by providing new competition opportunities for teams at critical times of the year.
More information about all the award winners from the International VEX Robotics Summer Games and other events can be found at www.robotevents.comand www.friendsofhawaiirobotics.org.
About the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry and the nonprofit community to achieve this work. For more information, please visit www.recf.org or www.robotevents.com.
About the Friends of Hawaii Robotics
Friends of Hawaii Robotics is a registered, Hawaii 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that supports Hawaii schools nine robotics programs. Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics at an early age and sustaining students’ interest in STEM education, “Friends” volunteer Board of Directors is laser-focused in their dedication to Hawaii’s students in elementary, middle and high school. Their mission, and year-round commitment, is to create opportunities for students to develop essential 21st-century real-world life skills, preparing them to become Hawaii’s leaders of tomorrow.
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