(Photo special to Hawaii 24/7)

MEDIA RELEASE

Kohala Middle School’s two VEX robotics teams led the winning, tournament champion alliance at the first Hawaii State Middle School Tournament held at Stevenson Middle School on December 21, 2013.

Along with their third alliance partner, Kalakaua Middle School, the winning alliance won in double elimination, third match against the top seeded alliance of Waiakea Intermediate School, Waialua Intermediate School, and Iolani School.

Kohala Middle School’s two teams qualified for the World VEX Championship taking place in April 2014 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Waiakea Intermediate School’s team won the prestigious Excellence Award which also qualifies the team for the World VEX Championship.

Waiakea Intermediate School and Kohala Middle School teams emerged from the seeding rounds with perfect 6 win, 0 loss, records, ranking one and two in the overall standings.

Kohala Middle School also won the Programming Skills Award.

The first Hawaii VEX Middle School Championship, sponsored by R.E.A.C.H. and Lt Governor Tsutsui, hosted 33 middle school teams from throughout Hawaii.

VEX Robotics offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich with career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership and problem solving among groups. Hawaii continues to rank among the top 10 states in VEX robotics competitions nationwide.

For further information about VEX Robotics, contact art@higp.hawaii.edu.

Thirty Meter Telescope sponsored the Big Island VEX League and the Big Island VEX Tournament, allowing teams to have multiple opportunities to showcase their student work, test and re design robots and strategies and develop a Big Island network of school and team collaboration.

The Big Island teams were the only ones to participate in a League this season in Hawaii.

“Mahalo to the coaches / mentors / parents and most especially the students for their commitment to excellence,” said Art Kimura, of the VEX Steering Committee. “The Big Island community can be proud of this great recognition of their hard work. We hope the Big Island community will help with their now fundraising to send their teams to the world championship.”

— Find out more:
www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/
www.higp.hawaii.edu/futureflight/
www.robotevents.com