Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Lauren Wester Published 
4:29 pm Wednesday, February 20, 2019

TES hosts first VEX competition

Tharptown Elementary School hosted the first VEX Robotics Competition – The Wildbot Throwdown – in Franklin County Feb 8.

Local schools like Tharptown, Vina, Belgreen and Phil Campbell participated, as well as schools from surrounding areas, like Hartselle and Florence. TES Robotics sponsor Jake Ward said 24 teams competed. “It was a huge success as far as fundraising for the school goes,” Ward said.

The proceeds from the competition will go back into the school’s robotics program, which has grown to about 30 students. Participants meet once a week and work with both DASH and VEX robots.

“They seem to love it. They respond well to it and really work hard,” Ward said.

The competition was for third- through sixth-graders and consisted of one practice field, one skills challenge and two competition fields. Each team participated in five matches.

Carol Raney, Janet Lovelady and Marsha Inmon were the judges for the design portion of the competition, which included an engineering notebook and a discussion with the judges. Lovelady said the competition went over very well, with one aspect in particular standing out to her: “The students who volunteered their time and assisted with the event really made a difference and helped it run smoothly,” Lovelady said.

A team from New Bethel won the Excellence Award, which was for the highest, overall quality with the VEX robot. A team from Colbert Heights won the Design Award. A team from Crestline was the Skills Champion, with the highest combined programming and driving skills.

“I want to thank everyone who helped make this event possible, including Kendra Ward, Tracy Elgin, Erin Masterson, Mandy Odom, Melissa Kiel and Monica Elliot,” Ward said.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

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

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025