Stramore NS students to represent Ireland at the VEX Robotics World Championship

Stramore National School students will represent Ireland at The VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas from April 25 to May 4.

The talented team of young students qualified for the VEX Robotics Competition after winning the Irish competition last month. Supporters of the team are fundraising to help the young students get to Dallas and are planning a Tractor and Vintage Car Run in Church Hill on Sunday 23rd April at 12pm. All proceeds will go towards Stramore National School’s trip to Dallas. The school is is situated at Glendowan.

The Stramore National School VEX Robotics Competition team is made up of a team of 12-year-olds - Edward Callaghan, Máire Callaghan, Cormac Gallagher, Charlie Gildea and Joseph McDermott

Stramore NS student Edward Callaghan demonstrating the VEX Robotics in action at a fundraising breakfast in Wilkin’s Bar recently

To prepare for the tournament, the group led by M. Pól Ó Fearraigh and Francie Friel worked together to design, build, and programme a robot that could quickly and efficiently solve specific challenges. Each week, the students apply what they’ve learned about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the classroom to build these semi-autonomous machines.

Students at Stramore NS demonstrating their VEX Robotics creation at the Big Fundraising Breakfast at Wilkin’s Bar

Conchubhar Fríl, principal of Stramore NS said: “We are all very proud of our students for their ability to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to building and programming a competition robot from ideation to completion.

"It’s been remarkable to see what they’ve accomplished in just one year and inspiring to think about the positive impact they will have on the world around them. There’s great excitement ahead of the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas in May and the students are looking forward to what will no doubt be a brilliant experience.”

The Stramore N.S. students and parents with the VEX Robotics Competition Ireland trophy

The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation manages the VEX Robotics Competition, which thousands of schools participate in around the world each year. Dan Mantz, CEO of the REC Foundation, said: “As an experienced robotics mentor, I’ve seen firsthand the engineering skill and leadership expertise that students gain by participating in the VEX Robotics Competition. It’s an experience that will stay with them long after their school days are over, offering a new appreciation for STEM and laying a strong foundation of critical problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise funds to send the Vex Robotics team to Dallas to compete in the World Vex Robotics Championship.