Teams from four El Paso high schools are already setting their sights on returning to the VEX Robotics World Championship in 2025, following their qualification for this year’s event through their success in local, regional, and national tournaments. The Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) El Paso refinery provided funding for their participation and has consistently supported the teams with volunteer assistance.
Our refinery’s Education and Outreach Committee (E&O) has been actively involved in robotics competitions throughout the season, serving as judges and scorekeepers,” said MPC El Paso Refining Engineer Lauren Shutts, a member of the E&O who traveled to Dallas to support the teams. “It was incredibly rewarding to witness the students’ growth and the evolution of their robot designs over the past year.
The three-day championship saw over 20,000 students from more than 60 countries competing across various divisions, including elementary, middle school, high school, and college. Teams navigated their custom-built robots through a series of timed matches and complex obstacles within a 12-by-12-foot arena.
The El Paso teams included two from Eastwood High School, one from Del Valle High School, two from Franklin High School, and one from Horizon High School. Notably, one of the Eastwood High School teams advanced to the divisional playoffs, making them the sole El Paso team to achieve this distinction.
The VEX Robotics World Championship and its related events are managed by the nonprofit Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, which aims to enhance student engagement in STEM fields through competitive, educational, and workforce readiness programs. As we left the event, I heard many students already planning their strategies for next year in hopes of returning to the 2025 championship,” Shutts noted. “The E&O team is thrilled to continue supporting these students and looks forward to their future achievements.
