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Roboteers Make History!
It was a historic weekend for Shawnigan at the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas on April 25-27.
The team of Colton B., Martin H., Dave P. and Zach P. achieved the School’s best-ever result at the world championships, placing eighth out of 82 teams in their division and making it through the first round of elimination before bowing out in the quarter-finals. It was also the best result for a school from Vancouver Island in the past decade.
With more than 800 teams of four divided into 10 divisions, all packed into Dallas’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, it would have been easy for the Shawnigan students to get caught up in the hectic atmosphere, but they remained focused and professional.
“We took it one game at a time and just continually did really well,” said Mr. Tim Stephens, who made the trip along with Mr. Paul Doig. “They exceeded our expectations.”
Teams at the world championships travelled from all over the globe, each bringing their unique robot designs, takes on the game, and strategies. In all, the venue was packed with more than 8,000 participants and supporters, all fully into robotics. The US Army, Navy and Air Force had presences at the event, along with NASA, all showing the participants where knowledge of robotics and STEM programs could take them.
Along with the competition, the students were able to visit some must-see locations in Dallas, including Dealey Plaza (where John F. Kennedy was assassinated), Wild Bill’s Western Store, the Museum of Illusions and a Texas Rangers baseball game. They also stopped by Southern Methodist University, where they visited the engineering building and students were excited to show them the 3D printing lab.
All four team members are Grade 12s, bound for post-secondary programs next year. Colton, Martin and Dave are all going into engineering, while Zach is going into psychology.
Dave has been at Shawnigan since Grade 8, and he has been involved in the robotics program all five years. He expressed his gratitude to the mentors – now alumni – who passed along their knowledge over the years, and said he has already been passing along his expertise to younger students, and plans to follow their success after he moves on from the School. His team’s success in Dallas was “very satisfying.”
“It definitely felt good,” Dave said.
Congratulations to our roboteers on their phenomenal success at worlds!
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
