Students from Owensboro Innovation Academy have earned a spot in the 19th annual VEX Robotics World Championship, one of the largest robotics competitions across the globe.
The event, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, will take place April 21-30 at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 2,000 teams from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries are expected to compete.
Teams design, build, and program their own robots to compete in fast-paced matches that test engineering, coding, and teamwork skills. The championship marks the culmination of a season of local, regional, and international qualifying events.
The competition highlights students’ development of real-world STEM and technology skills, including those tied to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence. According to the foundation, a majority of participants express interest in pursuing STEM-related careers.
“It’s incredible to watch these students innovate, problem-solve, and collaborate as they code, build, and compete each season,” said Stephanie Gray, robotics coach at Owensboro Innovation Academy. “They’re not just playing a game — they’re building the confidence, technical skills, and teamwork that will shape tomorrow’s innovators, all while having a lot of fun along the way.”
The VEX Robotics Competition is considered the largest and fastest-growing competitive robotics program for students ranging from elementary through college levels. The world championship brings together top-performing teams from across the globe to compete for a title in their respective divisions.
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, which organizes the event, focuses on increasing student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on robotics and drone programs designed to prepare students for future careers.
