Robotics Teams Recognized for Excellence; MS Team Earns Spot at World Championship Event

The Middle and Upper School Robotics teams concluded their regular season with impressive performances at competitions this fall and winter. The Middle School Robotics team secured first place at the VRC Over Under February Middle School Tournament, while the Upper School team earned the Judge's Award for demonstrating exceptional attributes, perseverance, and the ability to overcome challenges.

Director of Makerspace Matt Ziff expressed pride in the achievements of both teams, particularly commending the determination exhibited by students, many of whom are newcomers to the realm of robotics this year. Mr. Ziff remarked, "They’ve put in hundreds of hours of work over the past six months, and all that work has paid off with numerous awards across the season for both teams and a trip to the World Championships for the MS team!"

Among their impressive array of awards, highlights include the Middle School team's qualification for the 2024 World Championships in April in Dallas, a remarkable achievement that will allow them to compete on the international stage. The Upper School team's triumphs include the prestigious Excellence Award and the esteemed Judge's Award.The Excellence Award recognizes overall excellence in both the Judged Award and the Performance Award categories. The Excellence Award incorporates all the criteria of the Design Award, plus the added component of a team’s on-field performance at the event. A list of this year's awards appears below.

The Middle School Worlds event later this spring is set to feature the top 480 teams in the nation and 3,500 middle school teams globally. It marks the second consecutive year for our Middle School team to participate. As the team gears up for their performance in Dallas, Mr. Ziff is also busy thinking about next year. Belmont Hill plans to expand its robotics program, fielding two Middle School teams and two Upper School teams in response to the interest and growth of the teams. Additionally, a tournament is in the works to be held on campus in early November.

Furthermore, Belmont Hill is honored to share that Mr. Ziff was presented with the Southern New England Mentor of the Year Award. This recognition, voted on by judges and coaches and presented at the MS Regional Championship, speaks volumes about Mr. Ziff's leadership and mentorship within the robotics community.

Awards/Season Highlights

Middle School Team - Team 35075A

• 2x Excellence Award
• 2x Tournament Finalists 
• Tournament Champions 
• Design Award - This award recognizes a team's ability to document and explain their Engineering Design Process via an Engineering Notebook and Team Interview.
• Qualification for the 2024 World Championships in April in Dallas

Upper School Team - Team 35075B

• Excellence Award
• Judges Award
• Second year qualifying for Southern New England Regional Championships 

Mr. Ziff

• Southern New England Mentor of the Year Award

Click here to learn more about the Vex Robotics World Championship events.

Click here to learn more about the Belmont Hill Makerspace and Belmont Hill Robotics.