McKenzie Koch Robotics Participant, Advocate & Volunteer Robotics has never just been about the competitions. It’s about growth, both on and off the competition field, by building skills, communities, and confidence. Now, as a soon-to-be college graduate and dedicated volunteer, she’s using her experience to inspire the next wave of young innovators in Kentucky and beyond.
Josh Almoite Innovation Director & VEX Robotics Coach
Oscar McCullough Event Partner, Alumni & Emcee I'm a software engineer, so technical skills like coding and robotics apply to my job. But the most important skills these programs teach students are about the process. Learning how to plan a project and how to approach your work— those are the most valuable skills they'll learn.
Josh converted an old house, slated for demolition, into a robotics lab. He began inviting students and also reached out to an international school in Mexico to visit. “I don’t call them robotics teams,” he said. “I call them my innovation teams. Since this is about more than just building a robot. This is about building confidence, curiosity, and a problem-solving mindset.”
Launching the program wouldn’t have been possible without financial support. Grants, including funding from the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc., helped cover equipment and competition costs, which are critical to a brand-new program with limited resources. “That funding was essential,” said Steve Cline, a longtime educator and robotics coach.
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