Highlands Event Paying Ohio County Teams’ Way to Robotics World Championships | News, Sports, Jobs

WHEELING — A national robotics tournament hosted in Ohio County earlier this year raised enough money to pay the county’s robotics teams’ way to the world championships in Dallas this month.

“The Gateway to the West” robotics tournament — a signature event of the international VEX VRC Robotics Competition taking place in late January at The Highlands Sports Complex — raised $50,000 through sponsorships and in-kind donations, according to JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools.

“We have been supported by our community over the years, and the community really stepped up here,” she said. “We are grateful so many students can be impacted by the support of the community.”

The event also brought in $28,000 in registration fees from teams who came to Ohio County from 15 different states and Canada. That made for a total of $78,000 generated by the tournament, Shay noted.

The NASA West Virginia Space Grant consortium also donated $1,000 to each of the five robotics teams that qualified to help with expenses, adding an additional $5,000.

The event cost Ohio County Schools $45,000 to organize. Some items — such as materials to build a raised stage — are a one-time purchase, and no money would have to be spent next year if the tournament returns to Ohio County, Shay explained.

She noted the Robotics Boosters also raised money, and when added with the profits generated by the tournament, there is well more than the $35,000 needed to send the robotics participants to the Vex Robotics World Championships — beginning April 24 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.

“The money is there because of the way the community has supported, and our school board and our administration,” Shay said.

Ohio County Schools had three teams from Wheeling Park HIgh School qualify for the world championships, as well as one team each from Bridge Street and Triadelphia middle schools.

In total, 23 students will be traveling to Dallas, along with their coaches and chaperones. They will be flying to Texas.

Meanwhile, Shay, Ohio County Schools attendance director Amy Minch, and teacher/robotics coach Karen Triveri at Triadelphia Middle School will drive a van containing the teams’ robots across the country from Wheeling to Dallas.

During the world championships, Ohio County will learn if it will once again get to host a regional tournament. The parameters and requirements for next year’s robotics competitions also will be announced.

“When we get back, the new game will have been revealed and we will kick off the new season,” Shay said. “They will be hard at work, getting their robots ready.”

Fundraising efforts will again begin.

Those interested in donating to the robotics teams may do so through the Robotics Boosters fundraising Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/f/ocs-robotics-students-to-vex-2024-robotics-world; or by mailing a check to the boosters through Ohio County Schools, 2203 National Road, Wheeling, 26003.