Middle School Robotics Team Takes Top Honors
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The middle school robotics team, Classy Chassis, and its alliance partner, Scorpions from Zanesville Middle School, recently won first place at the V5 Robotics Competition in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
The team competed against 49 teams from Cleveland, Zanesville, Brecksville, Findlay, Union County and Bellefontaine.
As champions, the team has qualified for the 2025 Ohio VEX V5 MS Robotics State Championship in March, extending its journey to qualify for and compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship.
GJPS' V5 Robotics Competition team consists of five teams of students from all three middle schools. To prepare for the tournament, the group worked together to design, build and program a robot using VEX V5, that could quickly and efficiently solve specific challenges associated with playing the 2024-2025 game V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes.
Each week, the students apply what they’ve learned about STEM in the classroom to build these semi-autonomous machines. The competition also teaches an equally important set of skills - communication, project management, time management and teamwork.
The team’s advisor Dave Merrick said, “Our mission in GJPS is to Inspire Learners & Build Futures. Our robotics program is student-centered and allows for students to use the design process to problem solve. I am proud of our students (and coaches Jessica Foster/Matt Culp) for their ability to take what they’ve learned, research and apply it to building and programming.
"Our goal each day is to be better than the day before. The process has been fun to watch. Programs, clubs and sports help inspire and ready our young people for life. I love that our team’s experience with robotics will have a positive influence as they build their future.”
When team captain Cameron Foster was asked for the formula for success in the competition, Cameron said, “Everyone played their role perfectly. Don’t expect your first try to be your best. Keep improving.”
Gahanna’s V5 Robotics Competition team meets one to two times a week after school. The students learn about electronics programming, mechanical systems and materials fabrication.
