BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — From teams of all girls to student-athletes putting STEM learning at the forefront of their high school experience, a growing interest in robotics is helping to bring together great minds of the future. 

What You Need To Know

  • VEX Robotics World Championship to be held in Dallas, TX at the end of April

  • Beavercreek City Schools qualified 11 teams

  • Interest in robotics and STEM learning inspires young minds for the future

Between hours of practice, a serious commitment to teamwork, and enough math equations to fill several notebooks, you’ll find students from Beavercreek City Schools in Ohio getting ready to compete on the world stage.

“This is VEX Robotics VRC. Every year there is a new game, and it’s usually based off of a new scoring tactic. This year specifically, it uses disks and high goals to score points,” said Beavercreek High School student Matthew Chen.

There’s a common goal, but each robot is about as different and unique as each team’s name.

After qualifying at the state level back in March, 11 teams from the district are heading to the VEX Robotics Championship in Dallas, Texas at the end of April.

They’ll be going up against some of the best of the best.

“It feels truly amazing. This place has become like our second home and to be able to have these amazing opportunities is truly incredible,” said Harper Vega, a student at Jacob Coy Middle School.

Harper and her team, “The Chosen Ones,” have been competing together since last year.

“They push for girls to do robotics and have engineering paths in the future. It’s a very great program to be in, to be a girl in robotics this young,” said team member Kayleigh Seflers.

Jeff Beal is only a freshman in high school, but robotics has him thinking long-term.

“I’ve grown up a Michigan fan, so I really want to go to Michigan. I’ve gone to their robotics facilities. It’s really cool but you have to be really good at robotics and other academics,” he said.

“They sort of operate under the radar. They have practices after school. Sometimes they’re practicing after they’re already finished with a sports practice and then they come here and work on their robot for two hours or so,” said parent Olivia Beal.

It’s a true commitment. 

The schools have a tradition of bringing home some serious hardware from competitions.

However, no matter how it goes at the tournament, for these students, it’s all about the experience and an inspiration for their future.

“I want to become an engineer when I get older. I want to make this stuff my life. It’s amazing,” said Harper.

The teams from Beavercreek will compete April 27 through April 29.