01/28/11

Throughout Baltimore County, before school and after school, students are working with teachers and advisors to prepare for the next Baltimore County Public Schools VEX Robotics Challenge. This challenge, to be held on February 26, 2011, will be part of the BCPS Secondary STEM Fair being held at Chesapeake High School. Fifteen schools are expected to participate in the robotics competition, sending as many as 20 to 30 teams.

To prepare for VEX competitions, students work in teams to design, assemble, and program robots to perform specified tasks in a competitive environment.

The first BCPS VEX Robotics Challenge of the school year was held on December 4, 2010, at Woodlawn High School. Thirty-six student teams, representing 13 high schools and three middle schools participated in the competition. In total, more than 100 students participated with nearly 20 teachers serving as mentors. 

The nine volunteer judges for the competition represented BCPS, BGE, the Career and Technology Education Advisory Council, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Educational Outreach, and the Maryland State Department of Education. 

The event culminated in an awards ceremony with Brian Scriven, principal of Woodlawn High, and Douglas Handy, career and technology education supervisor, presiding.

The following awards were presented:

Award Excellence Tournament Champions Tournament Champions Tournament Champions Tournament Finalists Tournament Finalists Tournament Finalists Robot Skills Programming Skills Judges Judges Build Amaze Think Create All Star Support Energy Sportsmanship Website Website Website

Team Dulaney High 1727A Dulaney High 1727A Dulaney High 1727B Sollers Point Technical High 954B Perry Hall High 960A Woodlawn High 768A Woodlawn High 768C Dulaney High 1727C Dulaney High 1727B Woodlawn High 768A Catonsville High 933A Carver Center for Arts & Technology 950B Southwest Academy 5799B Towson High 934C Dulaney High 1727B Western School of Technology 3922 Woodlawn High 768D Dulaney High 1727A Dulaney High 1727D Owings Mills High 2866B Towson High 934B Hereford High 929Z

The event was sponsored by the BCPS Office of Career and Technology Education, Woodlawn High School, Dulaney High School’s robotics team (Rex 1727), and the Technology & Innovation in Manufacturing & Engineering Center.

Participating schools in the December 2010 VEX competition

Catonsville High                     
Chesapeake High                    
Dulaney High                       
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology          
Hereford High                      
Hereford Middle                  
Kenwood High                                  
Loch Raven High                 
Owings Mills High
Perry Hall High
Ridgely Middle
Sollers Point Technical
Southwest Academy
Towson High     
Western School of Technology    
Woodlawn High