VEX Robotics: NCSD bears find success in state competition - Morganton.com | The Ne...
Page 1 of 2
VEX Robotics: NCSD bears find success in
state competition
Special to The News Herald [email protected] | Posted: Tuesday, March 24,
2015 12:53 pm
Two student teams from the North
Carolina School for the Deaf traveled to
Concord on March 6 to participate in the
North Carolina VEX Robotics
Competition State Championships.
The two teams—the Deaf Bears and the
Signing Paws—were among 35 teams
entered in the tournament, and both scored
in the top half of the pack during
qualifying rounds.
NCSD Robotics state competition
Students from NCSD participate in the
VEX Robotics State Championships in
Concord on March 6.
The Deaf Bears included teammates Eilish
Duran and Patric Duran of Maiden,
Hunter Isaac of Newland and Angel Volovar of Morganton. The Signing Paws included
Solimar Bonilla of Concord, Haley Futral of Morganton, Cody Hollar of High Point and
Gustavo Lucha of Asheville.
David Bird, Jeff Lintz and Dr. Jana Lollis traveled with the team and assisted in
transportation and supervision. NCSD Director Dr. Audrey Garvin traveled with them,
too, providing support for the team and signing at the event.
VEX Competitions are designed as an inclusive, collaborative STEM — science,
technology, engineering, and math — activity that includes the merging of unfamiliar
students from other schools as teams in a competitive event working toward a common
goal.
The motivation of competition was a powerful driving force, said Lintz, and the
sportsmanship seen amongst teams would make any teacher, coach or parent proud.
Lintz said both NCSD teams had a lot to celebrate.
http://www.morganton.com/news/vex-robotics-ncsd-bears-find-success-in-state-competitio... 3/27/2015
VEX Robotics: NCSD bears find success in state competition - Morganton.com | The Ne...
Page 2 of 2
As captain of a three-team alliance, the Signing Paws received the finalist trophy for
NCSD, as did the other two schools in their alliance — an awesome addition to the
finalist trophy they won in the regional competition.
The Deaf Bears were awarded the Judge’s Award for their presentation and interview,
earning NCSD the second straight Judge’s Award – in both regionals and state.
Altogether, in two competitions, the two NCSD Robotics Teams won four trophies in
their short existence of a little more than two months, and they were captains of alliances
in both championship matches.
“I enjoy taking my students to these events where they compete and are seen as equals
with their hearing peers. This is what I think inclusion is about,” Lintz said. “In the VEX
competitions they are accepted and included and demonstrate that they belong. When
their hearing peers come to them for advice, as well as to share advice, it benefits all.”
NCSD prides itself in offering its students the opportunity to participate in broad choices
of curricular and non-curricular activities. These choices include their integrated
programs with Western Piedmont Community College and STEAM Academy of Burke
County, as well as their extracurricular activities such as their robotics club. They also
have the opportunity to participate with their deaf peers from throughout the United State
in events such as the Academic Bowl, the Mason Dixon Tournaments and a variety of
other sporting events.
The NCSD robotics teams received outstanding support from the NCSD Foundation,
which made sure the students had the funds and materials to participate in the events.
NCSD plans to expand its robotics program next year to include elementary and middle
school students, and school leaders are hopeful that they will be able to participate in the
VEX competitions and share the experience.
http://www.morganton.com/news/vex-robotics-ncsd-bears-find-success-in-state-competitio... 3/27/2015