Robotics Make Their Mark at World Competition
Westminster Christian School Teams 6855B and 6855C of the Warrior Robotics Elementary Division were one of only three schools in the nation that earned two or more awards at the 2019 VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in late April. During the regular season, over 5,000 teams from around the world competed.
Of those, only 409 teams qualified from 28 countries, 313 from the United States, 15 from Florida, and nine from Miami. Of the seven schools from Miami, Westminster was the only one to earn an award, and the only school from Florida to earn three awards.
Team 6855B won the Judges Award at Worlds, given to a team “that the judges determine that is deserving of special recognition. The judges consider a number of possible criteria for this award, such as team displays of special attributes, exemplary effort, and perseverance at the event, or team accomplishments or endeavors throughout the season that may not fit under existing awards but are none the less deserving of special recognition,” as well as third place in the costume award for their colorful bee costumes. Based on their showing at the World Competition, Team 6855B has been invited to participate in the 2019 World Adolescent Robot Contest hosted by the China Association in Science and Technology in Chongqing, China in August. They earned their World bid by winning the Design Award at the South Florida VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship in March 2019. The members of this team include: Gaby Gonzalez, Gabi Martin, Reva Eikenberg, Kaitlyn Walker, Ilysa Hilliard, Zoe DeVarona, Sara Espitia, Gigi Artiles, Lorena Haedo, and Caroline Seagren. They are coached by Claudia Pastrana, PLTW Enrichment Teacher at WCS.
Team 6855C earned the Create Award at Worlds, which is presented to a team “whose robot design incorporates a creative engineering solution to the design challenges of the season’s game." Key criteria for this award include the robot has a well-crafted, unique design solution which demonstrates creative thinking; the team has demonstrated a highly creative design process and methodology; the team has committed to ambitious and creative approaches to solving the game challenge; and students understand and explain how they worked together to develop their robot.” They finished the season ranked 19th in the World, 6th in the U.S. and 1st in Florida in skills. They earned their World bid by winning the Excellence Award and the Teamwork Champion Award at the South Florida VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship in March 2019. The members of this team include: Joey Hernandez-Solaun, Amarri Irvin, Santiago Ganley, Anthony Gonzalez, Jonah Santiesteban, Russell Briggs, RJ Linares, Daniel Fernandez, and Andrew Godoy. They are coached by Mailyn Santiesteban, 5th grade Math and Science Teacher at Westminster Christian School.
Thanks to the sponsors who make these events possible: Microsoft, FPL, Yachting Experts, Metric Engineering, Unified Technologies, Media Relations Group, Everglades Foundation, Hernandez-Solaun Foundation, Aerohive Networks, and the Seagren Family.
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Team 6855B won the Judges Award at Worlds, given to a team “that the judges determine that is deserving of special recognition. The judges consider a number of possible criteria for this award, such as team displays of special attributes, exemplary effort, and perseverance at the event, or team accomplishments or endeavors throughout the season that may not fit under existing awards but are none the less deserving of special recognition,” as well as third place in the costume award for their colorful bee costumes. Based on their showing at the World Competition, Team 6855B has been invited to participate in the 2019 World Adolescent Robot Contest hosted by the China Association in Science and Technology in Chongqing, China in August. They earned their World bid by winning the Design Award at the South Florida VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship in March 2019. The members of this team include: Gaby Gonzalez, Gabi Martin, Reva Eikenberg, Kaitlyn Walker, Ilysa Hilliard, Zoe DeVarona, Sara Espitia, Gigi Artiles, Lorena Haedo, and Caroline Seagren. They are coached by Claudia Pastrana, PLTW Enrichment Teacher at WCS.
Team 6855C earned the Create Award at Worlds, which is presented to a team “whose robot design incorporates a creative engineering solution to the design challenges of the season’s game." Key criteria for this award include the robot has a well-crafted, unique design solution which demonstrates creative thinking; the team has demonstrated a highly creative design process and methodology; the team has committed to ambitious and creative approaches to solving the game challenge; and students understand and explain how they worked together to develop their robot.” They finished the season ranked 19th in the World, 6th in the U.S. and 1st in Florida in skills. They earned their World bid by winning the Excellence Award and the Teamwork Champion Award at the South Florida VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship in March 2019. The members of this team include: Joey Hernandez-Solaun, Amarri Irvin, Santiago Ganley, Anthony Gonzalez, Jonah Santiesteban, Russell Briggs, RJ Linares, Daniel Fernandez, and Andrew Godoy. They are coached by Mailyn Santiesteban, 5th grade Math and Science Teacher at Westminster Christian School.
Thanks to the sponsors who make these events possible: Microsoft, FPL, Yachting Experts, Metric Engineering, Unified Technologies, Media Relations Group, Everglades Foundation, Hernandez-Solaun Foundation, Aerohive Networks, and the Seagren Family.
Westminster Christian School, located in Palmetto Bay, Florida, is a private, college-preparatory school for children from preschool through twelfth grade.