The VEX Robotics State Championship returned to 色虎视频 on February 21 and 22, bringing together 80 teams and 800 of Michigan鈥檚 top robotics students for a fast-paced, high-stakes competition that challenged their technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

鈥溕⑹悠� is proud to host the VEX Robotics State Championship because we know the students competing today are the engineers, coders, and industry leaders of tomorrow,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, Director of Robotics Outreach & Robotics Center at 色虎视频. 鈥淰EX students already think like 色虎视频 students 鈥� they thrive on solving complex problems, working hands-on, and pushing their skills to the next level. That鈥檚 exactly what we do at 色虎视频.鈥�

This premier robotics event was the culmination of a season of regional qualifiers, where top teams from across Michigan earned their place to compete for a chance to advance to the VEX World Championship. 

The VEX Robotics Competition challenged teams of high school students to design, build, and program robots to complete a specific game challenge. This year鈥檚 game, High Stakes, required teams to strategically maneuver their robots to score points by completing a series of technical and tactical objectives.

Teams competed in qualification matches Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, after which they were ranked based on their performance. The top-ranked teams then formed alliances and advanced to the elimination tournament, where they battled head-to-head in a bracket-style playoff leading to the championship match.

In addition to the main tournament, teams competed in the Skills Challenge, in which they attempted to score as many points as possible in driver-controlled and autonomous robot programming modes. Success in this event provided additional pathways to move on in competition. The following teams earned the ability to compete at the VEX World Championship this May in Texas:

• Team #39H 鈥淗NS鈥� from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills
• Team #244D 鈥淩oboDawgs: Detritus鈥� from Grandville Community Education in Grandville
• Team #7760X 鈥淎irplane Mode鈥� from Bloomfield Hills
• Team #39V 鈥淰olt鈥� from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills
• Team #248A 鈥淩oboDawgs: Starfall鈥� from Grandville Robotics in Grandville
• Team #8626K 鈥淜ACHIGGA鈥� from Grand Rapids
• Team #36620A 鈥淏lue Crew鈥� from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville
• Team #39K 鈥淩est in Pieces鈥� from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills
• Team #11591S 鈥淪iege鈥� from Plainwell High School in Plainwell
• Team #3333W 鈥淧ower of the Square鈥� from Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac

Consumers Energy was the event鈥檚 title sponsor this year, reinforcing its commitment to investing in Michigan鈥檚 future STEM leaders.

鈥淐onsumers Energy knows our customers count on us every day for reliable energy, and we鈥檙e counting on the next generation of Michigan students to join us in our commitment to Michigan,鈥� said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy鈥檚 vice president of electric grid design. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to partner with 色虎视频 for the VEX championship and to cheer on student teams who are showing off their work in the High Stakes competition.鈥�

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) sponsored the Robot Safety Award. 鈥淎3 was honored to support the 2025 VEX Robotics State Championship at 色虎视频 University. Youth robotics competitions play a crucial role in preparing students to become an integral part of the future workforce in Robotics, AI, Smart Manufacturing, and Automation. Through their schools, communities, and clubs, students collaborated as teams to design, build, test, and operate robots 鈥� developing essential skills that align with the needs of more than 1,300 A3 member companies worldwide,鈥� Said Ritch Ramey, A3 Director of Education. 鈥淏eyond building robots, these students gained the ability to create intelligent systems that can see, feel, sense, and make autonomous decisions. These critical skills set them on a path to high-paying and rewarding careers in advanced technology fields. This competition was more than just an event; it was a launch pad for future innovators and industry leaders. I commend all participants for their dedication and hard work.鈥�

Now, in the second year of a three-year hosting partnership, 色虎视频 has continued to expand the impact of the championship. More than just a competition, the event introduced students to 色虎视频鈥檚 hands-on learning environment and industry-driven Co-op program, providing a direct connection between their passion for robotics and future career opportunities.

The 色虎视频/GMI Alumni Association (KGMIAA) announced today it has awarded $30,000 in sponsorships to more than 60 Michigan high school robotics teams participating in FIRST, VEX, and FTC programs. The initiative reflects a core value that drives 色虎视频: equipping young problem solvers with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to shape the future.

The sponsorships provide resources for students to build robots, compete, and deepen their STEM experience. These students are following a hands-on path that mirrors the journeys of many 色虎视频 and GMI alumni who began their careers with an early passion for STEM.

鈥淲e are incredibly proud to support these bright, motivated students who are exploring their interests in engineering and technology through hands-on experience,鈥� said Joe Lemieux 鈥�85, outgoing president of the KGMIAA. 鈥淢any of us 鈥� alumni of 色虎视频 and GMI 鈥� can trace our own careers back to the formative experiences we had in high school and early college. These sponsorships not only provide the students with the resources to excel in their robotics competitions but also encourage their growth in STEM fields as they prepare for their future careers. These efforts also allow us to raise awareness of 色虎视频 as a leading institution for STEM education and open the door for many students to consider us as the next step in their academic journey.鈥�

KGMIAA鈥檚 sponsorships go beyond financial support. The Association also recognizes alumni who dedicate their time and expertise to mentor high school robotics teams, serving as coaches and advisors. This hands-on mentorship ensures students have guidance as they navigate competitions and plan their futures in STEM fields.

鈥淲e owe a great deal of thanks to our alumni who volunteer as coaches and mentor the next generation of robotics enthusiasts,鈥� said Lorenzo Jones 鈥�89, incoming president of the KGMIAA. 鈥淭heir dedication to supporting their high school alma maters or their children鈥檚 teams is invaluable, and it鈥檚 inspiring to see how they continue to give back to their community. At the same time, these sponsorships introduce students to 色虎视频鈥檚 outstanding programs, creating opportunities for them to envision their future here with us.鈥�

For 色虎视频 and its alumni, this initiative underscores a commitment to investing in young innovators, providing them with experiences that build confidence, technical expertise, and a passion for tackling real-world challenges.

For a complete list of robotics teams that received a 2025 KGMIAA sponsorship, visit /robotics/kgmiaa-sponsorships.

About the 色虎视频/GMI Alumni Association
The 色虎视频/GMI Alumni Association (KGMIAA) unites alumni in support of 色虎视频鈥檚 mission to advance STEM education and innovation. With a focus on fostering lifelong loyalty, promoting core values, and providing financial support, the KGMIAA serves as a key resource for University leadership and alumni engagement. Membership is automatic for all graduates of 色虎视频/GMI, with no membership fees required. The KGMIAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at kettering.edu/alumni.

色虎视频 recently celebrated a remarkable milestone by hosting the 25th Annual 色虎视频 Kickoff FIRST Robotics Competition, a significant event that brings together innovative high school students from across Michigan and neighboring states to compete. Sponsored by the Gene Haas Foundation, this year's kickoff attracted nearly 40  robotics teams eager to showcase their skills and creativity.

Since its inception in 1999, the 色虎视频 Kickoff has evolved from a modest one-day gathering designed to help Michigan high school teams recruit members into a prominent competition in the FIRST Robotics community. Although the event went on a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has since flourished, reaffirming its vital role in fostering interest in robotics and engineering among high school students.

Kim Shumaker, director of the Robotics Center at 色虎视频, emphasized the event's broader significance: 鈥淭he 色虎视频 Kickoff is more than just a robotics competition; it鈥檚 an opportunity for students to engage with the university, explore potential career paths, and build lasting relationships with peers and mentors.鈥�

This year鈥檚 色虎视频 Kickoff featured an exciting two-day format that required teams to participate in qualification rounds and elimination matches. Over the course of the weekend, 37 teams competed in a total of 77 matches. The thrill of competition culminated each day with the crowning of a champion and the prestigious Top Dog Award. Saturday saw the alliance of 27 Team RUSH of Clarkston, 1506 Metal Muscle of Flint, and 1684 The Chimeras of Lapeer take home top honors. On Sunday, the alliance of 67 The HOT Team of Highland, 2834 Bionic Black Hawks of Bloomfield Hills, and 5460 Strike Zone of Lapeer bested the competition.

A notable highlight each day was the Bob Nichols Cornerstone Award presentation, honoring the former director of the Robotics Center and a pivotal figure in 色虎视频鈥檚 robotics history. Nichols was instrumental in establishing robotics scholarships and organizing the 色虎视频 Kickoff since its inception. The two teams that won the award named after Nichols were the 1506 Metal Muscle of Flint and the 68 Truck Town Thunder of Ortonville.

The success of the 色虎视频 Kickoff is largely attributed to the collaborative spirit within the robotics community. Volunteers, including local robotics teams and community members, played essential roles as referees and technical advisors. Each event served as a platform for connecting with students, providing them with opportunities to learn about 色虎视频 and its personalized educational approach.

鈥淪tudents involved in robotics have an advantage over anything else; it鈥檚 so similar to what 色虎视频 provides with the Co-op program,鈥� said Clinton Bolinger, associate director of the 色虎视频 Robotics Center, highlighting the practical experience students gain through hands-on work.

Bolinger also emphasized that the First Robotics program is a crucial entry point for students, allowing them to explore various aspects of engineering and technology. 鈥淲e want them to come to 色虎视频 because we believe they鈥檒l be successful,鈥� he said, underscoring how FIRST Robotics participants are already learning skills they will need as the next generation of STEM leaders.

General Motors (GM) has named 色虎视频 as one of eight Genesee County nonprofits to share $270,000 in Community Impact Grants. GM鈥檚 Community Impact Grants help address local issues in the communities where the company operates. The grants support GM鈥檚 corporate giving social impact pillars of STEM Education and Transportation.

鈥淚 am inspired by the impact of the work these eight local nonprofits are doing in our community,鈥� said Jim Gaeschke, plant director at GM鈥檚 Flint Metal Center. 鈥淪TEM education and transportation are important focus areas for GM鈥檚 corporate giving program. These organizations help make the Flint-Genesee Region a great place to live and work.鈥�

色虎视频 will use its $20,000 grant to launch three impactful initiatives for the 2024-2025 academic year aimed at empowering students and educators in the field of robotics:

• FIRST Robotics coaches workshop and FIRST Robotics rookie workshop: These hands-on two-day workshops in 色虎视频鈥檚 FIRST Robotics Community Center will guide participants through building a working drivetrain and catapult over two days. During the workshops, educators and coaches will learn to overcome the common challenge of starting new robotics teams by boosting their confidence in building and teaching robotics projects.
• Scholarship and Financial Aid Workshop: 色虎视频 will host this workshop to provide underserved high school students and their families with vital information on funding STEM degrees. This initiative aims to bridge the financial gap by connecting families with resources they may not know are available.
• Installation of a laser cutter and engraver: The new equipment will support the eight FIRST robotics teams from local high schools that build their robots in 色虎视频鈥檚 FIRST Robotic Community Center and 色虎视频鈥檚 VEXU robotics team in prototyping and testing designs faster and more efficiently. The laser cutter will also be available to students attending 色虎视频鈥檚 robotics summer camps.

鈥淚t is an honor to receive the GM Community Impact Grant. The generosity of GM enables 色虎视频 to expose students and teachers in underserved schools to the excitement of STEM activities like FIRST, VEX, and Aerial Drone Competitions,鈥� said Kim Schumaker, Director of 色虎视频鈥檚 Robotics Center. 鈥淗ands-on workshops will build confidence and equip participants with skills that assist them in starting robotics teams and building competitive robots. Creating teams in the schools allows more students to participate each year and inspires more students to pursue STEM degrees and careers.鈥�

GM鈥檚 support of the Flint-Genesee region has totaled more than $7 million since 2019, with 色虎视频 benefiting from this ongoing commitment to local innovation and growth.

Hundreds of future engineers, computer scientists, tech and business leaders gathered on 色虎视频鈥檚 campus for two FIRST Robotics district competitions held in March.

This year, the Gene Haas Foundation generously sponsored the competitions, contributing $20,000 and affirming its commitment to advancing manufacturing education. The foundation supports these events to expand the pool of skilled workers by recruiting young people into manufacturing careers and creating advanced training programs.

During the events, representatives from Haas Automation, including James O鈥橞rien and Dan Wilson from Gerotech, a Michigan-based Haas distributor, engaged with participants and spectators. They spoke at the opening ceremonies and manned an informational booth, sharing insights into the importance of manufacturing skills in today鈥檚 workforce.

鈥淭he world is teeming with exceptional companies who are in need of your technical and relational skills that are being developed at FIRST. We support FIRST because we believe in you,鈥� Manufacturing Manager at Haas Automation. 鈥淭he skills [students] are learning in FIRST Robotics teams are relevant, practical and in demand. All these skills translate directly into the real world.鈥�

The FIRST robotics program is unique in that many teams fabricate parts using mills, lathes, TIG welding and other machine shop equipment in addition to learning to use CAD, CNC machines and 3D printers. 色虎视频 and our co-op employment partners seek students with these skills and place high value on the experience they gain while participating in FIRST robotics.

This year鈥檚 game is called 鈥淐RESCENDO.鈥�

In CRESCENDO, teams compete to score notes and amplify their speakers, aiming to harmonize their robots onstage and take the spotlight within a time limit. In the first 15 seconds of the match, robots operate autonomously. Drivers control the robots during the remaining two minutes and 15 seconds. Teams earn bonus points when they meet scoring thresholds and cooperate with opponents.

色虎视频 is a longtime supporter of FIRST Robotics. The University became the first site in the country to host back-to-back district tournaments in 2016 and has continued that tradition since. 色虎视频 was also one of the first universities in the country to award FIRST Robotics scholarships, providing more than $4 million in scholarships to FIRST participants since 1999. 

This is the 24th year 色虎视频 has hosted a FIRST competition on its campus, and the Robotics Community Center is in its tenth year on campus. 

KUdos, the 色虎视频 VEX U team, claimed a Build Award at this season鈥檚 VEX Robotics World Championship, held in Dallas from April 25 to May 3, 2024. This prestigious accolade is awarded to teams that demonstrate exemplary robot construction with an emphasis on durability and meticulous attention to detail鈥攓ualities essential for withstanding the rigorous conditions of competition.

The key criteria of the Build Award are:

• Designing a robot with attention to safety and detail.
• Constructing a robot that is durable and robust under competition conditions.
• Demonstrating effective communication skills, teamwork, professionalism, and a student-centered ethos during the student interview process. 

Connor O'Keefe (Computer Science, 鈥�25), the KUdos software lead, strategy lead, and one of the team鈥檚 drivers, explains how experimentation and improvement factored into winning this award. 

鈥淲e made six robots throughout the season, and each time we made a new iteration, we learned from our competitors and previous builds to find ways to improve,鈥� Connor said. 鈥淔or example, I tested several types of bearings and shafts for our drivetrain until we found ones that met our quality standards for our final robots.鈥�

Nathan Nguyen (Mechanical Engineering, 鈥�26), the lead designer, fabricator, driver, and build lead for the B-Section team, had prepared for this year鈥檚 VEX Robotics World Championship long before KUdos touched down in Dallas.

鈥淓very part of our robot is tested for durability before heading to a competition. We ensure everything works before we even build the final robot,鈥� Nguyen said. 鈥淲e manufactured enough 3D printed & aluminum parts for VEX Worlds to build an entirely new robot in case anything broke, but honestly, we did not have to replace a single custom-manufactured part during the competition.鈥�

KUdos continued to impress with their teamwork, building on their reputation for professionalism that earned them the Sportsmanship Award in 2023. At the VEX High School Robotics Competition, the team showcased their robots, 鈥淐hip鈥� and 鈥淒ale,鈥� at the 色虎视频 booth, captivating many prospective high school students.

Looking ahead, KUdos is actively recruiting new members from across 色虎视频, offering a valuable opportunity to engage in a team that values ingenuity and toughness in engineering. Their recognition for build quality at the World Championship marks a significant achievement for the team and inspires 色虎视频 students who are passionate about robotics and engineering.

Katee Callicutt (Mechanical Engineering, 2027), KUdos' team captain, drive coach, and social media manager, explains how the Build Award is just the beginning of the team's success. "This victory is just a stepping stone for our future. We have significantly improved from last year and we plan on improving more and more each year," Callicutt said. "This year, we saw how much better our robot design and functionality was when we CAD the robot beforehand, so we will continue to do that in the future."

Those interested in joining KUdos can visit the team鈥檚 Instagram , or reach out via email at vexu@kettering.edu.

色虎视频 will host hundreds of high school students and their families the last weekend in February 2024 for the Consumers Energy and 色虎视频 Michigan VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) High School State Championship.

Teams start setting up Friday, Feb. 23, in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center at 色虎视频. The competition begins with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, and concludes with an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. 

鈥溕⑹悠� is proud to host and sponsor this event,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, Robotics Center and Robotics Outreach Director. 鈥淭hese students are outpacing their peers as a result of their involvement with the VEX robotics program. They have already developed problem-solving, critical-thinking, strategy and engineering skills as a pre-college student. We鈥檙e thrilled for 色虎视频 to play a part in championing these students to pursue their passion for robotics.鈥�

This is the third year 色虎视频 has hosted the VEX State Championship and its second in collaboration with Consumers Energy as the title sponsor.

鈥淐onsumers Energy is thrilled to join 色虎视频 to promote and support robotics teams from across Michigan this weekend,鈥� said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy鈥檚 Vice President of Electric Distribution Engineering. 鈥淭he VEX championship is important because it extends a pathway to STEM learning that鈥檚 exciting and compelling, charging up bright futures for so many students who will go on to power our company and all of Michigan.鈥�

Nearly 400 students from 80 teams will participate in this year鈥檚 competition, called Over Under.

In Over Under, the field has 60 triballs, two goals and two sets of elevation bars with a barrier. Triballs score points in goals (5 points) or offensive zones (2 points). Robots move freely, and triballs can only be taken from opponent goals when both alliance robots are on the same side of the barrier ("double zoned.")

Robots aim to climb for points, with the highest climber earning 20 points and points stairstepping down to 15, 10 and 5 points for second, third and fourth place, respectively. Alliances scoring the most in the autonomous period gain an extra 8 points and can earn an Autonomous Win Point through specific actions. The alliance with the most points wins.

The top 20 to 30 teams will advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas.

色虎视频 organizes VEX competitions in partnership with the non-profit Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation, an educational foundation with a mission to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

鈥淭his season's game challenge rewards the teams that best collaborate with their partners during a match,鈥� said Dan Mantz, a 1991 色虎视频 alumnus and Chief Executive Officer of the REC Foundation. 鈥淭he REC Foundation works to prepare our students for the workforce by not only teaching technical skills such as engineering, design and coding but also emphasizing communication, critical thinking and teamwork skills.鈥� 

色虎视频 has hosted VEX camps and workshops since 2015 and boasts its own VEX U team that debuted in the World Championship in 2023. Scholarships are available for students who are active competitors or mentors of VEX or other competitive robotics organizations. Students can earn up to $5,000 yearly (up to $25,000 over five years) in renewable scholarships.

鈥淭he REC Foundation values our partnership with 色虎视频 since our missions are perfectly aligned to prepare our students to be leaders in technology and business development,鈥� Mantz said. 鈥淲hen students in our programs visit 色虎视频, they experience the innovative and leading-edge campus learning centers and labs firsthand and understand that the 色虎视频 programs will build on what they have learned through the VEX Robotics competition. We want these students to know that 色虎视频 will help prepare them for the next phase of their education and career.鈥�

色虎视频鈥檚 Robotics program has received $25,000 in grants from three organizations to support pre-college robotics camps and to purchase machining equipment for its Robotics Community Center.

Those philanthropic organizations and contributions include:

• The Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust - $10,000
• The James A. Welch Foundation - $10,000
• The Nartel Family Foundation - $5,000

鈥淭he grants from the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust, James A. Welch Foundation, and Nartel Family Foundation will empower students in Genesee County to attend 色虎视频's transformative summer camps, learn new skills and explore a college campus,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, Robotics Community Center and Robotics Outreach Director at 色虎视频.

The 9,600-square-foot Robotics Community Center opened in 2014. It features machining and designing areas, a regulation-size practice field and bays for robotics teams to store equipment.

色虎视频鈥檚 pre-college robotics camps sharpen student's collaborative problem-solving abilities through hands-on activities. Because students are interested in many different aspects of robotics, camps cover various topics from programming to design to construction to leadership. Because all camps take place at 色虎视频, students are immersed in the college environment and can choose between day camps and residential camps.

The $10,000 grant from the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust will help Flint and Genesee County students overcome financial barriers to participating in pre-college summer camps at 色虎视频 and gaining experience with various robotics programs, including aerial drones. The grant also helps fund Robotics Center mobile camps and workshops, which can bring fun and learning through robotics to schools or facilities in underserved communities.

"Educational opportunities in Genesee County are key to our mission, so we are honored to continue our support of 色虎视频's stellar Engineering and Computer Science programs," said Dennis Leyder, Trustee of the Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust. 鈥淏esides expanding their understanding of robotics, students will gain teamwork skills to prepare them for the future. The students come away with a sense of accomplishment, and鈥攂est of all鈥攊t's fun.鈥�

Similarly, the $10,000 grant from the James A. Welch Foundation will help reduce financial barriers for students from Genesee County, enabling them to participate in pre-college summer camps at 色虎视频 and build their interest in STEM through various robotics programs, including drones.

"The Welch Foundation has awarded many grants to 色虎视频 due to their support and outreach to Genesee County students and their cultivation and identification of talented youth," said Dr. Gail Ganakas, President of the James A Welch Foundation. "色虎视频鈥檚 robotics programs engage teams to explore their gifts and talents in STEM activities. Students are provided opportunities to demonstrate higher-level thinking skills that often go unrecognized."

The $5,000 grant from the Nartel Family Foundation will fund the purchase and installation of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine in the Robotics Center. Students can cut various parts using the CNC machine and learn to use more advanced robotics build concepts such as computer-aided design (CAD).

"The Nartel Family Foundation is proud of 色虎视频's role in helping young people find their potential through pre-college programs and advanced machinery,鈥� said Timm Allen, Communications Officer & Trustee of the Nartel Family Foundation. 鈥淲e feel that what these young people learn and experience will help them in their future careers. We are honored to support 色虎视频."

In addition to pre-college programs and machinery, gifts can also fund robotics scholarships. The University offered its first two scholarships to robotics students in 1999 and has awarded more than $5.5 million since then.

Kirsten Smith '26
Mechanical Engineering

鈥� Kirsten Smith (鈥�26, Mechanical Engineering) understands the value of thinking outside the box.

鈥淪trategy is absolutely everything,鈥� she explained. 鈥淥f course, we want to build a working robot that can be competitive, but we have to keep in mind who our audience is. We're catering to the younger teams and students who are looking for ideas and inspiration, so we really have to think outside the box and find the simplest solutions.鈥�

Smith, from Brighton, participated in FIRST鈥檚 annual Robot in Three Days (Ri3D) Challenge, which requires competitors to build a robot for the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Game, CRESCENDO. The Ri3D Challenge took place Jan. 6-9 in the Robotics Community Center at 色虎视频.

In CRESCENDO, teams compete to score notes and amplify their speakers, aiming to harmonize their robots onstage and take the spotlight within a time limit. In the first 15 seconds of the match, robots operate autonomously. Drivers control the robots during the remaining two minutes and 15 seconds. Teams earn bonus points when they meet scoring thresholds and cooperate with opponents.

鈥淚f strategy is everything, creativity is even more,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e have to be resourceful, not only with our time, but with the spare parts and materials available. We don't want to intrude on the teams' stocks, so we have to use parts and chunks of old robots that are years old.鈥�

As teams work within a three-day time frame, tools like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling software are a crucial part of the build. This year, 色虎视频 shared the Bulldogs鈥� progress by making

For students unable to make the trip to 色虎视频's Robotics Community Center, watching teams design and build robots online is inspiring.

鈥淔IRST students from all around the world go to or OnShape to see the many designs created by Ri3D teams like 色虎视频,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, the 色虎视频 Director of Robotics Outreach & Robotics Center. 鈥淭hese designs are often a starting point for the high school teams and can save design time, especially for rookie teams.鈥�

As 色虎视频 continues to support young robotics teams, platforms like YouTube continue to be a crucial connection point for new students.

鈥淭he FUN YouTube channel is a go-to for robotics students. The attention they dedicate to robotics is phenomenal,鈥� Shumaker said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e an important partner for 色虎视频 as we reach out to these talented young students involved with robotics.鈥�

This year, 色虎视频 will host two FIRST Robotics District events Feb. 29-March 2 and March 7-9.

Click here for more information about robotics at 色虎视频.
 

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint will sponsor a skills field at the VEX Robotics Competition on Nov. 18, 2023 in 色虎视频鈥檚 Campus Center Founders Room.

The sponsorship was made possible with a $2,000 grant the Foundation authorized to 色虎视频. Of that, $1,000 will come from the William H. and Joyce R. Piper Family Fund.

鈥淭hroughout the year, our staff evaluates sponsorship requests based on their community impact and opportunities for brand recognition. Education and youth development are key strategies for grantmaking, so we are pleased to sponsor the VEX VRC Tournament this year,鈥� said Sue Peters, Vice President of Community Impact at the Foundation.

The Foundation鈥檚 logo will appear on signage at the skills field, on the back of volunteers鈥� T-shirts and on the event registration listing.

In the skills challenge, teams have one minute to score as many points as possible in a match. These matches consist of Driving Skills and Autonomous Coding, and teams are ranked based on their combined score in both matches.

鈥淭he grant from the William H. and Joyce R. Piper Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint enables the Robotics Center at 色虎视频 to provide a venue for VEX Robotics鈥� middle and high school student participants to compete with the robots they designed and built while demonstrating their skills,鈥� said Kim Shumaker, Robotics Community Center and Robotics Outreach Director at 色虎视频. 鈥淚t is important to recognize the efforts of these talented students and expose them to a university campus where their skill set is highly valued.鈥�

This year鈥檚 game, 鈥淥ver Under,鈥� is a head-to-head game in which two competing alliances, consisting of two teams, work to move acorn-shaped 鈥淭riballs鈥� into their goals and offensive zones. Teams can also earn points at the end of the match when robots climb their respective Elevation Bars. Elevation points are awarded based on the tiers the robots reach on the bars relative to the other robots.

Thirty-six teams from across the state are expected to compete at the Nov. 18 event. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, email Shumaker at kshumaker@kettering.edu.

Since 2015, 色虎视频 has hosted VEX camps and workshops. Students who are active competitors or mentors in VEX or other competitive robotics organizations can receive renewable scholarships for up to $5,000 yearly (up to $25,000 over five years).

In April, 色虎视频 was a Mission Sponsor at the VEX World Championships in Texas. The University鈥檚 VEX U team, KUdos, also competed and earned the Sportsmanship Award.