November 22, 2021
November 22, 2021 – Northland Community & Technical College will welcome nearly 50 teams of middle school and high school students from all over the region and state for the Pioneer VEX Robotics Tournament on December 4, 2021, in Northland’s Thief River Falls campus gymnasium.
Andrew Dahlen, Northland Mechatronics instructor, said, “Each robotics team is similar to a small manufacturing company. Students are faced with competition, strict deadlines, numerous technical challenges, and finite resources. Successful teams push through these constraints with innovative solutions, teamwork, and perseverance.” Dahlen continued, “The experience of being part of a robotics team is excellent preparation for students to enter the workforce.”
Tournaments like the Pioneer VEX Robotics competition provide an exciting opportunity to get youth interested in manufacturing, technology, and engineering fields and build awareness of Northland’s technical program offerings such as electronics, welding, and a first of its kind, competency-based mechatronics program.
Northland is dedicated to serving manufacturers in Minnesota and North Dakota and utilizes a multifaceted approach to highlight careers in manufacturing and help businesses grow their workforce. This fall, Northland partnered with Marvin in Warroad, MN, to help provide career development and training and support the growing need for professionals with advanced manufacturing automation skill sets in the region. A new educational site will open in Warroad in 2022 as Northland brings the mechatronics program directly to that area.
VEX is the largest and fastest-growing Elementary, Middle, and High School robotics program worldwide, with more than 24,000 teams from 60 countries playing in over 1000 tournaments worldwide.
The Pioneer VEX Robotics Tournament will kick off at 9:45 a.m. with an opening ceremony. Qualifying rounds will follow at 10:00 a.m. with elimination rounds and finals at 3:00 p.m. An awards ceremony will follow the final rounds. This event is free and open to the public.
For additional information, contact Andrew Dahlen at andrew.dahlen@northlandcollege.edu or 218-683-8673; or visit www.northlandcollege.edu/vex.