A team of Mars Area Elementary School students competed in a Unified Robotics Competition, held Feb. 5 at West Allegheny Middle School.

The “Martian Stack Force” team of fourth-graders Stephen Domski, Carly Gibson, Winstyn Hawk, River Lint, Audrey McGivern and Spencer Mundy, and third-graders Olivia Coalmer and Lee Glover, competed against 25 teams from 10 school districts.

The team earned the “Most Unified Team” Award. The award is presented to the team that best exemplifies the principles of unity and equality, ensuring that all members are equally involved in the project.

“This team award recognizes the teamwork, effort, and dedication that every student has contributed along the way, and it truly magnifies all of the hard work that has gone into this season so far,” says Colleen Hinrichsen, team coach. “It was clear that our students truly did everything together—from choosing a team name and team color, to designing the logo, to building the robot in sections.”

To prepare for the competition, the students were tasked with building a fully functional robot; kept an Engineering Notebook to document their progress; and worked together to develop strategies for the competition, says Hinrichsen. Karen Banze, gifted support teacher; Ashley Campbell, learning support teacher; and Lauren Klein, social worker, served as assistant coaches.

Sponsored by VEX Robotics and the Special Olympics, the VEX Unified Robotics Competition brings together students of diverse abilities in a competitive, yet collaborative environment, while developing their skills as communicators, engineers, problem-solvers, and more.

The team will next compete on Friday, March 6, at Hopewell Area School District; and on Thursday, April 16, at South Fayette School District. For more information, contact Hinrichsen at (724) 625-3161.