Scoil Eoin, Ballincollig and Davis College, Mallow champions of EMC VEX Robotics national final

Teams from primary school Scoil Eoin, Ballincollig and secondary school Davis College, Mallow were declared champions of the EMC VEX Robotics national final at CIT last weekend.

Both teams won overall Excellence awards and qualify for places at the VEX Worlds in Louisville, Kentucky, taking place in April.

The EMC VEX Robotics initiative, now in its fourth year in Ireland, promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning and engagement among primary and secondary children.

For several months, over 1,000 pupils from more than 50 Cork schools planned, designed and built programmed and remote-controlled robots to complete particular tasks, like manipulating and moving or firing objects into a scoring zone. Mentors from EMC and Lifetime Lab provided training and guidance for both pupils and their teachers.

Martin O’Flaherty, Program Manager at EMC and EMC VEX Robotics leader, said:

“The EMC VEX Robotics initiative is a fantastic way to engage schoolchildren in STEM learning. From start to finish, primary and secondary school teams are engaged in designing, building and operating robots, and getting hands-on experience with schematics, project management and computer programming. This kind of knowledge is particularly important as the demand for tech skills increases, in Ireland and globally.

“The EMC VEX Robotics team offers Scoil Eoin and Davis College, and the other award-winners, our congratulations. We also extend our thanks to every pupil and teacher who participated. We hope they enjoyed their experience as part-time robot engineers and take away a new passion for STEM learning,” said Mr O’Flaherty.

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.”

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.”

Other awards went to:

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