Robotics teams from Notre Dame compete with Cranbrook teams at Kettering University.
Notre Dame’s Bumble Bees compete in the finals match on Saturday at Kettering University.
On Saturday, ten of the twelve total VEX IQ Challenge robotics teams from Notre Dame’s Marist Academy were up against nearly as many teams from Cranbrook Schools in a competition held at Kettering University in Flint.
Notre Dame’s teams were The Robo-Sharks, The Engineers who say Ni, Code Crushers, Poison Vipers, Followers of Zaza, The Terminators, The Vipers, X – Factor, Yellow Jackets and the Sharp Shooterz.
Bumble Bees teams 3333b and 3333p were named Teamwork Champions.
According to Jerry Palardy, who helps mentor the “Bumble Bees” teams for Notre Dame, most of the teams were participating in their first competition of the year.
“There was a lot of learning and growing on Saturday, but they did outstanding,” he said.
He also said the Notre Dame contingent brought home a number of awards from Saturday’s competition, including:
Excellence Award (best overall team): Team 3333T (The Terminators): 4th grade boys. This qualifies the team for the Michigan State Championship.
Teamwork Champions: Teams 3333B (The Engineers who say Ni) and 3333P (Followers of Zaza): 6th grade boys. This qualifies both for the Michigan State Championship.
Design Award: Team 3333A (The Robo-Sharks): 6th grade boys. It was the fifth competition in a row that the team has won this award.
Programming and Driving Skills Champions: Team 3333B (The Engineers who say Ni): 6th grade boys.
The STEM Presentation Award: 3333P (Followers of Zaza): 6th grade boys.
Congratulations, Bumble Bees!
A winning celebration.
Bumble Bees team 3333T earned the competition’s Excellence Award.
Members of Team 3333A were named the Design Award winners at Kettering.
More about the VEX IQ Challenge
The VEX IQ Challenge, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, is a relatively new STEM program for elementary and middle school students (ages 8-14). Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, build robots using the VEX IQ robotics platform to solve an engineering challenge that is presented in the form of a game. VEX IQ Challenge teams work together scoring points in Teamwork Matches, and also display their robot’s skills individually in driver controlled and autonomous Skills Challenges. In addition to building robots, the VEX IQ Challenge encourages students to actively learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a STEM-themed research project that consists of a written or media presentation.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.