Cedar Park, Westlake, Vandegrift schools take home top robotics awards – Austin American-Statesman

Three Austin area schools took home top honors at the 2017 University Interscholastic League state robotics championship this weekend, handcrafting robots from the ground-up and pitting them head-to-head in a competitive challenge.

Cedar Park Vista Ridge High Schools team Static Void and Austin Westlake High Schools all-girls Philobots were crowned state champions, alongside a team from Dallas Sunset High School. The three beat out 24 other schools in the 5A-6A division FIRST Tech Challenge to take home the top titles.

Three teams from Austin Vandegrift High School were named runners-up in the competition.

The UIL robotics pilot program began during the 2015-2016 school year as a way to help students master complex skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, by placing them in highly competitive environments. They are asked to build robots and use problem solving skills to overcome a set of challenges.

UIL has two competitive robotics seasons, known as BEST and FIRST.

The FIRST competition was held at the Austin Convention Center this weekend. Here is a list of the schools that took home awards in the state championship (and what those schools are saying Sunday on social media about their wins):

FIRST Tech Challenge Group II, UIL Conferences 5A-6A on May 19, 2017

Team 6990 - Cedar Park Vista Ridge HS

Team 8811 - Dallas Sunset HS

Team 9048 - Austin Westlake HS

Team 6209 - Austin Vandegrift HS

Team 6299 - Austin Vandegrift HS

Team 7161 - Austin Vandegrift HS

Team 9048 - Austin Westlake HS

Read more:

Cedar Park, Westlake, Vandegrift schools take home top robotics awards - Austin American-Statesman