ECTC students shine at VEXU World Championship

Published on May 6, 2024

— Four Elizabethtown Community and Technical College students participated in the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, April 29 – May 1. This marks the eighth consecutive year for ECTC students to compete in the prestigious event. 

Team NUKE competed in nine qualifying matches with teams around the world. They placed seventh in their division and earned the highest score for an individual team this year when they beat Mississippi State 222 to 70. NUKE advanced to the division finals but lost to the University of Kentucky, whose leader was a former NUKE teammate.

VEX U provides students with the opportunity to design, build, and program robots within a restricted development environment and helps students become comfortable with iterations. Teammates develop a wide range of technical skills as well as soft skills. Teamwork and problem-solving are critical skills as the team builds and modifies a robot that competes in year-round events which culminate at the VEX Robotics World Championship.

Team NUKE consists of ECTC students Jeffrey Stewart, David Roche-Meléndez, Tanner Blake, Joshua Wisniewski and five Northern Kentucky University students.

"We're very proud of the performance at the World Championship and the work these students put into VEX U throughout the year. They are talented, dedicated students," said team advisor Marty Sutherland. "We also are thankful for supporters who made this unique learning opportunity possible."

Funds from LG&E, Polymaker and Central Kentucky Community Foundation help make this trip possible. 

For more information about the Engineering and Electronics Technology program at ECTC or competing in VEX U Robotics as an ECTC student, contact Marty Sutherland at marty.sutherland@kctcs.edu or 270-706-8685.