The fourth annual GO TEC VEX IQ Robotics Competition, held on April 16, brought 120 Virginia middle school students to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
This year’s event featured 30 teams representing 14 schools, making it the largest competition to date.
Throughout an exciting day of competition, teams demonstrated their skills with student-built and -operated VEX IQ robots, competing in this year’s game, Mix and Match. Played on a 6-by-8-foot field, the challenge required robots to collect, stack and connect colored pins and beams, then place those stacks into designated goal areas.
Teams earned points for building multi-color stacks, creating connections between game pieces and strategically placing completed stacks in matching goals. The game emphasized collaboration, precision and strategic planning, with alliances working together to maximize scores during each match.
“This competition gives students hands-on experience with skills they’ll continue to build as they explore high-demand career pathways.” – Angela Brown, GO TEC Director, IALR
“The level of creativity and teamwork we see each year continues to grow. Students are pushing themselves and learning from every match.” – Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager, IALR
The Winning Teams
First Place: The Tomohawks, Rural Retreat Middle School
Second Place: Data Demons Blue, Christiansburg Middle School
Third Place: Team Durables, Dinwiddie Middle School
The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) team at IALR coordinated the competition with support from the community and industry partners.
Participating schools represented the following school divisions:
- Pittsylvania County Schools
- Danville Public Schools
- Dinwiddie Public Schools
- Wythe County Public Schools
- Smyth County Public Schools
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Halifax County Public Schools
- Roanoke County Public Schools
- Pulaski County Public Schools
- Bristol Virginia Public Schools
All participating teams have completed or are currently enrolled in the GO TEC middle school program, which introduces students to high-demand career fields through immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
Now in 76 middle schools and continuing to expand across the Commonwealth, GO TEC widens and strengthens the talent pipeline by moving foundational awareness and skills to an earlier age. GO TEC introduces students to these strategic, technology-focused sectors – and helps them identify the education and skills needed to pursue those careers.
IALR serves as the fiscal agent and program lead for GO TEC.
