Highlands Event Sponsoring Ohio County Teams for Robotics World Championships

The “Gateway to the West” robotics tournament held in Ohio County has successfully raised enough funds to send the county’s robotics teams to the world championships in Dallas. The tournament, a part of the VEX VRC Robotics Competition, generated $78,000 through sponsorships, donations, and registration fees.

With the support of the community and additional donations from the NASA West Virginia Space Grant consortium, the robotics teams from Ohio County Schools are now fully funded for the upcoming championships. Three teams from Wheeling Park High School, along with teams from Bridge Street and Triadelphia middle schools, will be competing in Dallas.

In total, 23 students, coaches, and chaperones will be traveling to Texas for the world championships. While the students will be flying to Dallas, a group including JoJo Shay, Amy Minch, and Karen Triveri will be driving a van containing the teams’ robots across the country.

The success of the tournament not only secured funding for the teams but also opened up the possibility of hosting a regional tournament in Ohio County again next year. The future of robotics competitions in the county will be announced during the world championships.

Fundraising efforts will continue to support the robotics teams, and donations can be made through the Robotics Boosters fundraising Go Fund Me page or by mailing a check to Ohio County Schools. The community’s support has been instrumental in the success of the robotics program, and the teams are grateful for the opportunity to compete on a global stage.