Four Charles County Public middle school robotics teams earned awards at the 2017 VEX Robotics Maryland State Championship held March 11 at La Plata High School. Three teams from Piccowaxen Middle School and one John Hanson Middle School team were recognized with awards. The teams were four of 24 competing teams from Maryland.
The Motorized Madness and Happy Wheels teams from Piccowaxen were named Tournament Finalists at the event. Students on the Motorized Madness team include Piccowaxen eighth-graders Matthew Hale, Cheyanne Milbrook and Sydney Robertson. The Happy Wheels team includes sixth graders Mia Ross and Nathan Todd, and seventh graders Leanne Berry and Evan Compton. Sandra Chisholm, a computer teacher at Piccowaxen, coaches the team with the assistance of Byron Brezina, a community volunteer.
Piccowaxen’s C.B.O.B. team received the Sportsmanship Award at the event. This award recognizes a team that demonstrates outstanding support of other competing teams, and demonstrates respect throughout the competition. Students also are given this award for being courteous, helpful and respectful. Students on the team include Piccowaxen sixth graders Ginger Hayden, Hannah Kelley, William Harry Kriemelmeyer and Lauren Lovejoy. Chisholm and Brezina also coach this team.
Hanson’s We’re Vexy and We Know It team received the Design Award. This award is given to the team that demonstrates an organized and professional approach to the design process, project and time management, and team organization. Members of the team include Hanson eighth graders Yachi Madaan, Alyssa Norris, Andrew Parent and Jacob Stern. Daniel Meltsner, a computer teacher at Hanson, coaches the team.
This year’s challenge is called Starstruck in which teams compete in matches with robots on a 12-foot-by-12-foot playing field. Teams use their robots to outmaneuver their opponents and score more points by placing stars and cubes in goal zones. All four teams advanced to the state competition after earning awards at the regional event held last month.