From VEX Challengers to Champions: Omaha Public Schools Robotics Team Takes on the World

Under the guidance of coach Sheri Cohen Vollmer, a team from Omaha Public Schools’ Bluestem Middle School is heading to the VEX Robotics World Championships for the first time in over a decade. The dedicated group of six students have been working tirelessly on their robot, with 36 interested students initially on board but only 6th and 7th graders remaining as eighth graders have yet to fill the school.

This year’s VEX challenge requires building a robot no larger than 18x18x18 inches and scoring points by getting “tri-balls” into the opposite goal. The students must start with basic materials like nuts, bolts, and metal and build and program the robot on their own. Despite facing setbacks such as having to dismantle their robot due to size restrictions, the team persevered.

Coach Cohen Vollmer describes robotics as “the sport of failing forward,” emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes. For the team, winning is not just about competing but also about having fun and gaining valuable life lessons. By participating in robotics, these students are not only acquiring technical skills but also developing resilience and critical thinking abilities that will serve them well in all areas of life.