Manchester, KY - The 2nd Annual Clay County High School regional VEX Robotics competition was conducted at the EKU Manchester Campus on Saturday, December 10, 2016.
The EKU conference center and hallway corridors was bustling with nearly 20 competition teams consisting of high school students from Rockcastle County, Scott County, Pulaski County, Hardin County, Lincoln County, Laurel County, Jefferson County, and West Virginia.
The teams were busy finalizing the robotic computer programming, practicing control maneuvers, and adjusting their strategies for the competition events. "Their custom-built robots are constructed to meet the rigors of competition, but even then when things go awry the students have to think fast for trouble-shooting and think critically and creatively to resolve problems" said Mr. Mitch Hawkins who is a faculty member and robotics team coach at Clay County High School (CCHS).
"The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the robotics programs at the respective high schools are truly helping students to prepare to become the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians" remarked Mrs. Chandra Lawson who is an instructor of engineering at the Laurel County Center for Innovation (CFI).
"Advanced manufacturing plants such as Phillips Diversified Manufacturing located in Manchester and Annville, as well as Aisin, Hitachi, and Toyota all rely upon having a highly skilled and technically trained workforce" said Dr. James M. Davis, CFI Principal. "We need more Career and Technical Education (CTE) training programs in our high schools in order to meet the learning needs of students, to increase the workforce development capacity of our communities, and to meet the needs of business and industry to recruit, employ, and retain talent within the region" added Davis.
Pictured: Top is the Laurel County Center for Innovation (CFI) Vex Team & left is students operating VEX robots at EKU regional competition
