Two VEX Robotics teams made up of students from Boynton Middle School and DeWitt Middle School recently competed in the Northern New York VEX Robotics State Championship in Syracuse, representing their schools among the top teams from across the region.
Team 639A and Team 639F both placed in the top 25 during qualification matches and ranked in the top 15 in the Robot Skills competition.
Team 639A had an especially strong showing in the finals, competing as part of the third-seeded alliance in the Teamwork Matches and finishing second in the Robot Skills competition. The team was also awarded the Excellence Award, recognizing overall achievement in design, programming, strategy, and teamwork.
Winning the Excellence Award qualified Team 639A for the VEX Robotics World Championship, which will take place April 28–30 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Members of Team 639A include: Daniel Lee, Gio Lee, Nate Elia, Scot Torelli, Harrison Swanstrom, and Edder Schweitzer.
Through opportunities like VEX Robotics, Ithaca City School District students apply critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in real-world contexts. Programs like this support the district’s mission to prepare students for lifelong learning by engaging curiosity, innovation, and teamwork.
To support Team 639A’s trip to the VEX Robotics World Championship, community members can donate through the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Giving Page.