Jefferson Recognizes the Robotics Team's Success this Year

Jefferson Recognizes the Robotics Team's Success this Year

Jefferson Jet Logo on red background

On Friday morning, Jefferson Elementary School staff and students gathered in the school’s gymnasium to recognize students and staff who make up the Jet-iRobots team. The Jefferson Jet-iRobots team had an impressive season - making it all the way to the VEX IQ World Championship held April 29 through May 2 in Louisville, KY. Jet-iRobots team were one of the 400 teams from across the world selected to compete at the World competition because of their teamwork, individual and team knowledge of programming and design engineering, and determination to raise the funds to attend the competition. Judges interviewed each team throughout the three-day event and were able to choose only one team from each division that stood out among the rest for their selflessness, grit, and determination. Most teams in the competition only have 1-2 students responsible for each portion of the project, but each of the nine team members from Jefferson were able to explain how to program, how they worked as a team to continue to improve their robot, and stood as a united front.

Jefferson Elementary School Information Literacy Assistant and Robotics Coach Jenn Shidler said, “When the judges asked members of our team how they got this far in this year’s competition, our students said that they had to work at the Plymouth Pizza Hut clearing dishes and serving drinks. While that was met with laughter, it also showed that our robotics members were willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goal!”

The Jet-iRobots team qualified for the World level competition after receiving a first place win at the LaPorte VEX competition that also qualified the team to compete at the state level. The state competition took place on March 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium where Jefferson Jet-iRobots came in 2nd place overall in the finals.

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Angie Mills said, “Jefferson Elementary School would like to thank the Jet-iRobots team of coaches, Jenn Shidler, Jeremy Shidler, Darren Shidler, Dan Kallenburg; our Jet-iRobots parents, families, school staff, our PTO, and community businesses for their support. Without their support, our Jet-iRobots team would not have been able to travel to the VEX IQ World Championship.”

Sponsors included: 3M, MAAX, Blissville Church, Pizza Hut, Auto Park Buick GMC, Jefferson PTO, Four Seasons Custom Decks, Pizza Bills, Hacienda, CTE Solutions, Tri Kappa, and WTCA AM/FM. Individual support from the Miller family, Kallenburg family, Bates family, Pritchard family, Hopple family, Aker family, Naylor family, Strahla family, and many more.


Back Row: Mrs. Jenn Shidler, Chance Miller, Mannin Howard, Brandon Ganshorn, Jacob Olivares, Front - Izabelle Hayn, Freddy Kallenberg, Ethan O’Leary, Jonah Rich, and Peyton Miller.