Rogers State University’s competitive robotics team finished in 7th place at the recent LEEP Higher VEX University Robotics Competition (VURC) in Lawrence, Kansas.
Held Nov. 23 at the University of Kansas, this regional event allowed robotics teams from nationally known universities and institutions to compete against one another on a national platform, showcasing their technical prowess, teamwork, and innovation in robotics, design and programming.
RSU’s team – the RoboClaws – made it to the quarterfinals, where they ultimately finished in 7th place out of 14 teams, beating larger teams which included the University of Nebraska and Texas Tech.
According to RoboClaws advisor and Technology and Justice Studies Department Head Dr. Curtis Sparling, the team performed well and is already making plans for their next competition.
“Overall, it was a fantastic learning experience for the team,” Sparling said, “and they’ve already started to fabricate new components, re-engineer for function, and re-program in preparation for their next tournament in January.”
RSU’s robotics team was first realized in September 2023 when a project proposal from Sparling was funded by an anonymous $6,500 donation during the university’s annual Giving Week initiative.
For more information about RSU’s Department of Technology and Justice Studies, visit www.rsu.edu/TJS.