Omaha Public Schools’ Bluestem Middle School is sending a team to the VEX Robotics World Championships for the first time in about a decade. The team, under the guidance of coach Sheri Cohen Vollmer, has been working hard on their robot since the beginning of the school year. Initially, there were 36 interested students on the team, but only six dedicated students remained as eighth graders have yet to populate the school.
The VEX challenge this year involves creating a robot no larger than 18x18x18 inches and scoring points by getting “tri-balls” into the opposite goal. The students started with basic materials like nuts, bolts, and metal and had to build and program the robot on their own. Despite facing setbacks like having to dismantle their robot due to size restrictions, the team persevered.
Coach Cohen Vollmer describes robotics as the “sport of failing forward,” emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes. The focus for the team is not just on winning but on having fun and learning from the experience. By participating in robotics, the students are not only gaining technical skills but also valuable life lessons such as perseverance, problem-solving, and teamwork.
