EMC VEX Robotics Cork
Teacher Karen Pender, with Social Bride Middleton pupils Chichi Ositadinma, Weronika Aszyjczyk and Hope Adegoke pictured at the national final of the EMC VEX Robotics competition. Image via Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Winners of Cork EMC VEX Robotics finals announced

1 Feb 2016

After a weekend in which Cork students pitted their robotic creations against one another, two schools have come out victorious in the EMC VEX Robotics finals, with the winners now heading to the US finals.

The EMC VEX Robotics finals was gearing up on Friday to be an event to offer a platform for future mechanical engineers and lovers of all things science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related, and now the champions have been crowned.

The two schools declared the robotics winners on the day were primary school Scoil Eoin, Ballincollig and secondary school Davis College, Mallow, which were able to show their robots could perform a number of basic tasks with ease, such as them being able to manipulate objects, navigate obstacles and perform something akin to robotic shotput.

Kentucky fried robots

The two teams will now get the chance to head over to the VEX Worlds in Louisville, Kentucky where they will compete with other teams from around the world, with the event taking place in April.

Speaking of their schools’ wins, Gobnait Ní Nuanáin, principal of Scoil Eoin, said: “I am immensely proud of the tremendous work and commitment shown by the teachers and sixth class boys, to win four awards at this year’s VEX IQ National Finals, including the Overall Excellence Award. Scoil ar leith.”

Meanwhile, Denis Healy, principal of Davis College, Mallow, said: “Davis College and the team are delighted to win the Excellence Award. Knowledge of STEM subjects, like engineering and maths, is hugely important in today’s economy.

“After their experience with EMC VEX Robotics, we’re confident that our winning pupils will have a technical subject in mind when they choose their university courses in the next few years.”

Full list of winners

VEX IQ (primary):

Design: Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Girls, Bishopstown

STEM project: Gael Scoil Thomas Davis, Mallow

Robot skills: Scoil Eoin Ballincollig

Programming skills: Scoil Eoin Ballincollig

Sportsmanship: Walterstown NS, Cobh

Teamwork: Sunday’s Well & Scoil Eoin Ballincollig

Judges’ Award: Rockboro NS, Cork

Teacher Award: Margaret Daly, Scoil Mhuire Banrion GNS, Mayfield

Mentor Award: Liam Buckley, working with Scoil Cholmcille, Blarney Street & Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers

VEX EDR (secondary):

Design Award: Colaiste an Sprioraid Naoimh, Cork

Sportsmanship: CoderDojo CIT, Cork

Judges’ Award: St Coleman’s Community College, Midleton

Robot Skills: Davis College, Mallow

Programming Award: Coachford Community College, Cork

Tournament Winners: Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk & Nagle Community College, Mahon

Colm Gorey
By Colm Gorey

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic. He joined in January 2014 and covered AI, IoT, science and anything that will get us to Mars quicker. When not trying to get his hands on the latest gaming release, he can be found lost in a sea of Wikipedia articles on obscure historic battles and countries that don't exist any more, or watching classic Simpsons episodes far too many times to count.

Loading now, one moment please! Loading