IM体育官网 has qualified for the first time to compete at the prestigious VEX Robotics World Championship, which is being held April 25-28 in Louisville, Kentucky.
A total of 87 robotics teams from all over the world will compete at the college level. IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Purple Fire robotics team is one of only two IM体育官网 teams that qualified. The University of IM体育官网 will also be represented.
鈥淚t gives you a sense of pride,鈥� said Zack Weingarten, a senior majoring in computer science. 鈥淚 knew things would take time, but I was confident we were going to make it to 鈥榳orlds.鈥� I didn鈥檛 know when, but here we are.鈥� Weingarten, who is from Parkland, IM体育官网, is the first president of the IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 robotics club.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be in an arena filled with 1,400 teams, from elementary to college. It can be intimidating, but I know we鈥檙e going to do well and we鈥檙e going to make an impact,鈥� said sophomore computer engineering major Joseph Patullo, of Hollywood, IM体育官网.
The eight student members of Purple Fire have been working toward making it to the VEX Championship since last September. And, although winning would be great, these students have their eyes on a bigger prize: jobs.
鈥淭hese robotics competitions provide a full programming and logistics, hands-on experience that a lot of high-tech companies look for when they hire,鈥� said freshman mechanical engineering major Brandon Ervin of Coral Springs, IM体育官网. 鈥淚t is all about how this learning process can later open doors for us in the job market.鈥�
The VEX Robotics World Championship is organized by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (REC). According to its website, their goal is to provide engaging tech-based programs that foster the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for students to succeed in the 21st century.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-327-9762