Robots were rumbling this weekend at the 2016 aio Hawaii Convention Center HCES State Elementary & Middle School VEX IQ Championships at which up to ten teams could earn invitations to compete in world-level competition; by the end of Saturday’s matches, two Island Pacific Academy teams – one in the Elementary division and one from the Middle School division – were invited to the 2016 VEX Worlds – VEX IQ Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky. Nearly 80 elementary and middle school robotics teams represented 25 different schools and organizations from four islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Molokai.
Robotics teacher Weyland Bailey gives some last minute advice to one of IPA’s Elementary VEX IQ teams (Team 4422B) as they practice with their robot. The boys would go on to place as Finalist for the Robot Skills Award at the 2016 aio Hawaii Convention Center HCES State Elementary VEX IQ Championship
There were a total of six IPA teams consisting of middle school and elementary students. Awards that the IPA teams brought home from the Championship tournament include:
Cullison takes time to share strategy with a student from another school, Kuakini practices maneuvers; Cullison and Kuakini with their VEX IQ robot.
The highest Robot Skills Score award was earned by IPA’s VEX IQ team 4442D with Wyatt Cullison (’21) and Joshua Kuakini (’22). In addition, Cullison and Kuakini earned an invitation to compete at the 2016 VEX Worlds – VEX IQ Challenge in the Middle School Division.
Corpuz and T. Mizon (Ceberano not photographed) at the 2016 aio Hawaii Convention Center HCES State Elementary & Middle School VEX IQ Championships.
IPA’s elementary VEX IQ team 4422A also performed at a high skill level; team members Caleb Ceberano (’23), Ryan Corpuz (’22), and Taylor Mizon (’24) also received an invitation to compete at the 2016 VEX Worlds in April.
Grade 6 classmates Gulko and Okimoto carry their robot from the check-in and inspection area to a practice field before competition.
Two classmates, Nathan Okimoto (’22) and Zaheer Gulko (’22), working as IPA team 4442A came in 1st Place Overall in the Qualification Matches during the state-level competition. And IPA’s elementary team 4422B with two grade 4 students, Dylan Rooney and Chase Alcantra, was a finalist for the Robot Skills Award.
Madison Mizon (’22), Maya Morikawa (’24), Taylor Horita (’22) and William Angel (’22) represented IPA proudly at the state-level competition.
Watch a video about the VEX IQ 2015-2016 Challenge to see what the robots must be programmed to do to earn points during a competition.
Congratulations to all of our Navigator Robotics students for a great VEX IQ season: William Angel (’22), Alcantra (’24), Caleb Ceberano (’23), Corpuz (’22), Cullison (’21), Gulko (’22), Taylor Horita (’22), Kuakini (’22), Madison Mizon (’22), Taylor Mizon (’24), Maya Morikawa (’24), Okimoto (’22), and Rooney (’24).
