BotsIQ builds STEM skills for workforce success

The Punxsutawney Area School District BotsIQ teams has another incredible season! Due to COVID safety protocols Bots IQ held several mini competitions. Each participating school signed up for a date and each competition declared a winner based on the teams’ performance in the arena. Both Punxsutawney Area High School robotics teams competed in a mini competition at Robert Morris University on May 27. Each of the teams made it to the final bout and had to compete against each other. The team managing the robot called Shredded Metal defeated Team Escanor.

After all of the mini competitions had finished, documentation scores were tallied and final places were determined. Both Punxsutawney teams place in the top 5 on the Grand Champion Rankings! Team Shredded Metal placed second overall and Team Escanor placed fifth!

According to the BotsIQ website, the program the Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Foundation has introduced manufacturing careers to high school students across southwestern Pennsylvania through its signature youth program, Southwestern Pennsylvania BotsIQ. Students learn technical knowledge and STEM skills necessary for rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing as they design, build, and compete with their 15-pound robotic creations.