It took several attempts for organizers to call to order Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ seventh annual STEM Robotics & Maker Challenge.

The music in the Virginia Beach Convention Center was loud, and the more than 1,200 student participants were busy setting up work stations, making last-minute technical adjustments, affixing flags and, well, dancing.

That’s right, dancing.

They would have all day to showcase their robots’ skills. It was time for the students to show off their dancing skills, taking turns in the middle of a circle that spontaneously formed near the main stage.

The official ribbon cutting by Superintendent Aaron Spence and division administrators had yet to open the STEM Robotics & Maker Challenge, but the celebration was already well underway.

The event held June 12 was the culmination of a yearlong Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative that engages students in grades K-12 in afterschool STEM robotics activities.

Joining the more than 200 elementary, middle and high school student teams were hundreds of adult advisers, volunteers and judges. Also on-site to participate in the fun were representatives from the event’s “Sustaining Partners” – STIHL, CONCOA, SAIC and ALCOA – and other event sponsors such as the American Society of Naval Engineering, From One Hand to Another, Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union, Virginia Beach Economic Development, Opportunity Inc. and DJ Precise.

“We know that there is a critical need for a skilled, professional STEM workforce, and it is thrilling to see so many of our students engaged in instruction and activities that strengthen their skills and open their eyes to potential STEM-related careers,” said Spence. “This citywide event provides yet another opportunity for our students to challenge themselves and apply what they’ve learned, and I am grateful to staff and volunteers who have supported their work all year.”

This year’s STEM Robotics challenge, “Baxter on the Boardwalk,” featured the board game Monopoly and Baxter the Robot, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) robot the division purchased in 2014 as a STEM teaching and research tool. Students had to control robots they made and place miniature Baxters in select spaces on a Monopoly-style board in five minutes or less. Teams earned points for the successful completion of various placements.

The Maker Challenge was added to this year’s competition and featured students’ 3-D printing and entrepreneurship skills. Student finalists from the division’s Maker Expo in February presented their original 3-D printed products and discussed their business plans with judges. Next year, a Cybersecurity Challenge will be a new component at the annual event.

All participants chronicled their process using an e-portfolio to showcase their learned skills and research, and the following awards were presented for the top robots, 3-D printing products and e-portfolios at the elementary, middle and high school levels:

STEM Robotics Challenge Awards

Grand Champion (Level 1): Superheroes, Kempsville Middle School

Grand Champion Runner Up (Level 1): Cyber Blue, Landstown High School

Grand Champion (Level 2) – Team Level 2, Cox High School

Grand Champion Runner Up (Level 2) – Iron Olympians, Princess Anne High School

Elementary School:

1^st Place: Big Ideas, Thoroughgood

Runner Up: BaxBots, Ocean Lakes

Middle School:

1^st Place: Superheroes, Kempsville

Runner Up: Trial and Error, Brandon

High School:

1^st Place: Cyber Blue, Landstown

Runner Up: Ro Ro Ro Your Bot, Landstown

 

Maker Challenge Awards

Elementary School:

1^st Place: White Oaks

2^nd Place: Thoroughgood

3^rd Place: Kemps Landing/Old Donation

Middle School:

1^st Place: Kemps Landing/Old Donation

2^nd Place: Bayside

3^rd Place: Great Neck

High School:

1^st Place: Ocean Lakes

2^nd Place: Technical and Career Education Center

3^rd Place: Green Run Collegiate

 

E-Portfolio Awards

Elementary School:

1^st Place: Big Ideas, Thoroughgood

2^nd Place: Team Purple, Thoroughgood

3^rd Place: Mythical Machines, Landstown

Middle School:

1^st Place: Lightning Blue, Brandon

2^nd Place: Mechanical Megaldons, Salem

3^rd Place: BRAVES, Kempsville

High School (Level 1):

1^st Place: Team STEAM, Advanced Technology Center

2^nd Place: TSJONS, Advanced Technology Center

3^rd Place: Cyber Blue, Landstown

High School (Level 2):

1^st Place: Iron Olympians, Princess Anne

2^nd Place: B&B Inc, Advanced Technology Center

3^rd Place: Watt Squad, Advanced Technology Center

To read more about the school division’s STEM initiatives, visit vbschools.com.