After troubles getting all 15 students to travel to Dallas, Texas, USA for the VEX Worlds 2022 robotics competition, Ghana got represented by two boys, who reached the semi-finals.
It was the first time an African and Ghanaian elementary students team qualified for the competition.
Nana Adom Ceasar of North Hill School and Jonathan Sam Jnr of RisingSun Montessori School-Dome were the two lucky students to make it the US for the competition. They formed the Bounti-Bot GH2 team, which competed in the Engineering Division.
They had triumphed as part of the 15 from a rigorous VEX Educational Robotics competition organised by VEX Robotics local partner Bountiful Technologies Ltd and REC Foundation local event partner Bountiful STEM Educational Foundation for some 20 schools in Accra.
Due to Covid-19 and visa delays, only the two students joined students from over 40 schools across the world for the competition.
Accompanying these two students were Bountiful STEM Educational Foundation President Selina Aboagyewaa Appiah, who is a STEM professional and a REC Foundation Local Event Partner along with Mr. Emmanual Ceaser, a parent who quickly stepped in as a “self-appointed Robotics Coach” since the team coaches could not travel due to US Visa delays. He received virtual instructions from the team coaches via a zoom conference call from Accra, Ghana
The event started on Tuesday, May 2 to Friday, May 13.
Bounti-Bot GH2 won all their games and made it to the finals in which they lost the match. They won 15 medals and a certificate of honour.
“The students went to VEX Robotics Worlds as boys and returning home as men and inspired to continue to learn by doing and believing in themselves,” a statement said. “They made Ghana and Africa proud thus Redefining the Face of STEM in Ghana and Africa.”
VEX Worlds Robotics competitions is the largest educational robotics and STEM competition in the world with teams from over 40 countries and territories and over 5000 teams competing from Elementary School (Basic schools), Middle schools ( Junior High School in Ghana ), High schools and University level.