FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guilderland, NY – January 20, 2025 – STEAMwhiz – The STEM Learning Lab, a leading STEM education center, is thrilled to announce the outstanding performance of its teams at the recent VEX IQ qualifying event. Competing for the first time, three out of four STEAMwhiz teams won awards and qualified for the State Regional Competition, showcasing their incredible potential and dedication.
The VEX IQ competition is a prestigious global event that inspires young minds through hands-on, student-centered learning. With over 24,000 teams from more than 60 countries participating, it is one of the largest and most influential robotics competitions in the world1. The competition, supported by top companies and organizations, including NASA, Google, and Texas Instruments, encourages students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills by designing, building, and programming robots to tackle complex challenges. This year’s local qualifying at Queensbury was fantastic, featuring 25 teams and over 100 students from the local region with multiple years of experience. With the amazing field, the achievements of STEAMwhiz’s teams are even more remarkable as they were the only rookie organization competing for the first time. Out of 25 teams, with only 6 spots available to qualify for the next level state regional competition, STEAMwhiz achieved a hat trick by taking 3 of the 6 spots.
Team Magnificent Mangos received the Outstanding Design Award for their innovative and original robot design, which impressed the judges and secured their spot in the state finals. Their creativity and strategic thinking were key factors in their success. The team also finished 3rd in the Total Skills challenge, showcasing their well-rounded abilities.
Saaqib Maraicayer, Cooper Radler, Caleb Roche, Kolbe Tessarzik
Team Dunk-In earned the CREATE Award, recognizing their strategic approach and use of advanced robotics elements such as pneumatics and an H-drive system. Despite being one of the smaller teams, their hard work and ingenuity stood out, earning them a place in the state finals. Their dedication and perseverance were evident as they refined their robot multiple times leading up to the event.
Rithika Boosa, Maansi Chamakura, Sriniket Muthyala
Team Purple Burritos demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication, overcoming significant challenges to achieve a stunning upset in the Team Competition Challenge. Their perseverance and teamwork were truly inspiring, earning them a well-deserved spot in the State Finals. The team’s ability to handle pressure and perform under challenging conditions was commendable.
Waliy Ashary, Austin Merrill, Simon Polishchuk, Xavier Pulecio
Team Vortex, mainly consisting of 4th graders, excelled against competitors up to 8th grade, securing second place in the Team Challenge and achieving the event’s highest score. They were one of only two elementary and youngest teams at the event. Although they did not qualify for the finals this time, their potential is undeniable, and they are poised to become a dominant force in future competitions. Team Vortex will compete again on February 22nd at Queensbury to clinch their spot in the state finals.
Benjamin Epstein, Daniel Epstein, Lorcan O’Loughlin, Elle Pulecio, Tegan Waters
Vortex & BrainBots High Score of Event
As the teams prepare for the State Regional Competition in Syracuse on March 5th, they are gearing up to face even tougher competition. Teams like La Salle from Niagara Falls, who have been competing for 10 years and have gone to the world championships multiple times, will be among the formidable opponents2. Despite being the underdogs, STEAMwhiz’s teams are determined to rise to the challenge and demonstrate their innovative spirit and teamwork.
The importance of robotics and AI in shaping the future job market cannot be overstated. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest report, advancements in AI, robotics, and automation are expected to transform 86% of businesses by 2030, creating millions of new jobs in fields such as AI, self-driving automation, and other emerging technologies3. These trends highlight the critical need for STEM education programs like those offered at STEAMwhiz, which prepare students for the jobs of the future.
“We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements,” said Dr. Javier F. Pulecio, Co-Founder and Robotics Program Director of STEAMwhiz. “AI is changing the job landscape from a knowledge-based economy to one that emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and teamwork. Programs like VEX IQ are essential in nurturing these skills, prioritizing innovation, strategic thinking, and working in a team. Our students’ success at the event is a testament to these skills and the supportive community of parents, teachers, and mentors. We look forward to seeing them grow and what they will accomplish next.”
STEAMwhiz is committed to nurturing the talents of young learners and providing them with opportunities to excel in STEM fields. Our primary mission is to nurture creative problem-solving skills and adaptability to prepare students for an AI-driven future. The center’s participation in the VEX IQ competition highlights its dedication to fostering innovation, teamwork, and a passion for learning.
Check out the entire Vex IQ Teams Challenge on Queensbury Schools YouTube channel – Q-Tube. Thank you to tournament director Eric Wood of Finch Paper, the Queensbury School District, and all the volunteers for making the event spectacular.
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Contact: Allie Pulecio, Co-Founder & Director of Programs, STEAMwhiz – The STEM Learning Lab
[email protected] (518) 512-9595
1 About VEX – IQ – VEX Robotics
2 LaSalle Prep students gear up to compete in World Robotics Championship