Robotics team looks to repeat as state champion and get more students involved

Coming off of a successful season last year, the RoboHawks, Champlain Valley Union High School’s robotics team, are preparing for the upcoming season.

Last year the team won the Vermont FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge state championship and received the prestigious Inspire Award for being an exemplary team and ambassador to FIRST.

These results qualified the RoboHawks for the world championships. Support from community members and local businesses enabled the team to travel to Houston in April for the competition.

Courtesy photo. The Champlain Valley Union High RoboHawks robotics team.

“While we didn’t receive any awards, we learned a lot and can’t wait to put that knowledge to work this season,” team members Crawford Phillips, Joseph Jacobs and Violet Fennern of Charlotte said in a release.

The RoboHawks are working to expand access to the robotics program and offering lots of opportunities for students at CVU to participate. The team is even encouraging middle school students to get involved.

The FIRST robotics programs are perhaps the best real-world STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning students can experience, the release said. The program is lauded for helping students learn science, engineering and technology skills, while inspiring innovation and fostering self-confidence, teamwork, communication and leadership.

CVU is adding a JV team this year. The RoboHawks meet after school every Tuesday 3:15-5 p.m.

For middle school students, the RoboHawks are working to create a FIRST Lego League robotics team in every school. FIRST Lego League is an international competition hosted by FIRST similar which is similar to FIRST Tech Challenge, except using Lego robots.

The team is hosting a workshop on FIRST Lego League robotics and robotics coding on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 3:45 p.m. in the CVU robotics room 154

Please reach out to CVU Robotics with any questions. The team is looking for volunteers and mentors. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm. There are stipends for coaching a team available due to a state grant awarded to the school district.