Bessemer City Central, Chavis emerge as overall winners of RoboGASTON

Energy took center stage at this year’s RoboGASTON robotics competition. The “Super Powered” theme had students focusing on how to create energy in individual tasks to work together as one unit.

Teams from across Gaston County Schools gathered on Saturday, March 4 at Forestview High School to show off their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) know-how skills.  The competition, which involves elementary school and middle school teams, puts students’ knowledge to the test as they compete in three different categories: robot design, robot game, and innovation project.

“RoboGASTON is an opportunity for students to design, engage, and cooperate on a mission to engineer a better future,” according to Charli Mims, the RoboGASTON coach for Robinson Elementary.  “It gives students a creative space to grow in teamwork, engineering, brainstorming, speaking and listening, and critical thinking skills.” 

To prepare for the competition, teams often meet before and after school to practice and get ready for the district-wide competition.  They spend a lot of time together, which coaches say bonds the students in a beneficial way. 

“I think our weekly practices are something my students will remember for a long time,” said Jill Medford, the coach for Bessemer City Central Elementary School.  “We have really turned into a family over the months of practicing for the competition.”   

In addition to learning together, students also are able to develop valuable skills. 

“RoboGASTON allows students to explore and collaborate with their peers in a fun environment,” said Eric Miller, the coach for John Chavis Middle School. “Students are able to take on multiple roles and discover their own strengths and weaknesses while working as a team.”

“What I love about taking part in RoboGASTON is getting to learn all these new things and experiences,” said seventh grader Riley Szymborski.  “I get to make a lot of new friends along the way and make my family proud of the work that I’m doing.”