FAMU Hosts Seventh Annual Regional VEX Robotics Tournamentv
FAMU DRS Technology Instructor Alejandro Gonzalez with a competitor at the Robotics Tournament.
The Seventh Annual Tallahassee Regional VEX Robotics Tournament was held at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center on Saturday, February 4.
The daylong event was actually two competitions going on simultaneously – the VEX IQ (grades 3-7) and the VEX VRC (grades 8-12). This year, 23 VEX IQ teams and 20 VEX VRC teams, each with four-six students per team, competed. They represented teams from all over Florida and South Georgia competed. Teams from Rickards High and FAMU DRS were among those competing.
Professor David White (far left) President Robinson and interim SAET Dean Andrew Chin
(far left) with members of the FAMU DRS robotics team. (Credit: Glenn Bell)
The FAMU DRS STREAM Robotics team, which won the Energy Award, competed in the middle school division. The FAMU STREAM Robotics team is unique in that it is comprised of FAMU DRS students enrolled in second through eighth grades.
As the teams competed, parents and relatives looked on from the stands. President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., attended the tournament and mingled with the volunteers and organizers of the event.
“The event was a tremendous success. This was the most participants we have ever had and both competitions (IQ and VRC) had wonderful teams,” said organizer of the event, David White, Ph.D., College of Education distinguished professor and director of FAMU Chevron FabLab. “We congratulate the winners of the event and are especially happy for the newcomers to the tournament.
“We are proud to send such exceptional teams to the State Championships in Claremont, Fla., on March 11 and are hoping they excel to the World Championships in Dallas, Texas April 25 – May 4,” White added. “We look forward to an even bigger event next year.”
The tournament was sponsored jointly by the FAMU College of Education and the FAMU School of Architecture and Engineering Technology(SAET).
Judging Results
Elementary School and Middle School Winners
2023 VEX Robotics Tallahassee Regional Tournament
VEX IQ Awards
**Excellence: 97231C – Falcon C – Fairview MS (Tallahassee)
Design: 97231A – Falcon A – Fairview MS (Tallahassee)
Judges: 31794D – Tifton Blue Devils – 8th Street MS (Tifton, GA)
Sportsmanship: 3208B – Juicy Pickles – School of Arts and Science (Tallahassee)
Robot Skills: 3208C – The Processors – School of Arts and Science (Tallahassee)
*Teamwork: 31794D – Tifton Blue Devils – 8th Street MS (Tifton, GA)
*Teamwork: 3208C – The Processors – School of Arts and Science (Tallahassee)
Energy: 18770B – Rattler Pride – FAMU DRS (Tallahassee)
Inspire: 17059B – Ellipses – Hartsfield Elementary (Tallahassee)
* Automatically qualified to go to State Championship in Tampa
** Invited by VEX Robotics Inc. to participate in State Championship in Tampa
High School Winners
| Excellence Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIC) | 66954A | Circuit Girls | Circuit Girls Robotics | St Johns, Florida, United States |
| Tournament Champions (VRC/VEXU/VAIC) | 70649V | Team V (AORE) | PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY MAGNET AT LOFTEN HIGH SCHOOL | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Tournament Champions (VRC/VEXU/VAIC) | 70649R | Top G | PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY MAGNET AT LOFTEN HIGH SCHOOL | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Design Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIC) | 59321A | Cowboy Pride | Madison County High School | MADISON, Florida, United States |
| Robot Skills Champion (VRC/VEXU) | 66954A | Circuit Girls | Circuit Girls Robotics | St Johns, Florida, United States |
| Robot Skills 2nd Place (VRC/VEXU) | 70649V | Team V (AORE) | PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY MAGNET AT LOFTEN HIGH SCHOOL | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Judges Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIC/ADC) | 70649N | Team N (AORE) | PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY MAGNET AT LOFTEN HIGH SCHOOL | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Sportsmanship Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIC) | 3502C | OctoPiRates | SAIL | Tallahassee, Florida, United States |