TES hosts first robotics competition
Twenty-three teams compete in the robotics competition hosted by Tharptown Elementary School.
Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Lauren Wester Published 
7:47 am Tuesday, November 27, 2018

TES hosts first robotics competition

Nov. 14 Tharptown Elementary School hosted its first robotics competition under the guidance of instructor Jake Ward.

“It was pretty fun. We wanted to set a standard and show what Tharptown can do,” Ward said.

Twenty-three teams participated in the competition that was held at the A.W. Todd Center in Russellville.

“I was blown away by the turn out. We weren’t expecting it,” Ward said.

Teams from Belgreen, Red Bay, Vina and Russellville competed, as well as teams from Florence and Hartselle. Tharptown itself didn’t have any teams participate; Ward said this was to avoid any appearance of favoritism, since people from Tharptown served as judges.

TES teachers who served as judges were Kendra Ward, Erin Masterson, Amanda Odom and Tracy Elgin.

“We had great support from the community, the school and the parents,” Ward said.

The competition was open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Ward said the biggest age group was the third- through fifth-graders.

Riverhill’s team won the kindergarten through second-grade division. The Vina Devilbots won the third- through fifth-grade division. The Red Bay Tigerbots won the sixth- through eighth-grade division.

Also on Franklin County Times
Warming stations in the Shoals
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — Several warming centers and emergency shelters are operating across Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties in preparation for freezing t...
What to know about hypothermia
News, Z - News Main
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — While Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties are facing a ice storm warning starting at midnight, several homes and residents may lose p...
Sheriff: Contraband is constant battle in jails
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the county jail is not immune to the problem jail officials everywhere face: Inmates coming...
Oliver, Shackelford qualify for sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will have to hit the campaign trail to seek a fifth term this year. Oliver, a Republican and Fra...
New welding shop a plus for students
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A new welding shop inside the Russellville High School’s remodeled career tech building offers students more time and space to learn th...
Vina seniors tour NWSCC campuses
News, Vina Red Devils
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
VINA — Vina High School seniors toured the Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals campuses of Northwest Shoals Community College as part of career planning a...
Can the US solve its electricity crisis?
Columnists, Opinion
January 21, 2026
As America embraces a new year 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing “affordability crisis.” While prices for some key items have mer...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *