The REF Hosts Robotics Competition for RISD

The Stale Baguettes. Mechanical Popcorn. Rip Tide. Those are just three names out of the 44 teams that competed in the RISD Elementary and Secondary Robotics event. Not only has the creativity of the names grown, the event, in its sixth year, has grown by 152% in participants since the first competition in 2016! The all-day event, held at the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy, provides an opportunity for teams at every level to practice, prepare and adjust for the upcoming sanctioned tournament season.

The success of the tournament goes beyond mastering the maneuvers on the playing field, as it required involvement from the Curriculum & Instruction department, CTE staff, student volunteers and parental participation. The REF’s goal, as shared by the organization’s president Lacy Deckard, is to continue supporting RISD learners by providing experience that helps develop their interests in robotics and showcase additional areas of study within the District’s CTE program.