Davis College Wins Best Overall School In Vex Robotics International Competition

Davis College is celebrating a wonderful achievement in science and technology this week. On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November, Cork secondary schools competed in the Vex Robotics Competition in City Hall. The competition, sponsored by Cork-based multinational EMC, encourages schools to look at innovative ways of teaching and learning to promote interest in careers in science and technology. The overall winner of the competiton was Davis College, whose team, DC Robotics, won the main prize, the Excellence Award. This award means that Davis College will now participate in the World Championships in California in April 2013. Davis College therefore has the distinction of being the first school to ever represent Ireland at this prestigious event. The team was mentored by four teachers from the school (Ms. C. O’Sullivan, Mr. E. Long, Mr. R. Stack and Mr. M. Kelly) and two volunteers from EMC (Dave Doyle and Philip Carey). The team of twenty-three students showcased two very unique robots. The group’s huge commitment and excellent team work was commended by judges. Their passion for the project was evident in the fundraising effort that they engaged in to buy matching tee-shirts, with each student’s role on the team printed on the back. These roles included builders, designers, fundraisers, scouts, a web designer and programmers. As well as two out-standing robots, the team also developed an amazing stand, brochures for the judges, a mascot and their own website, dcrobotics.weebly.com. Their marvellous triumph was greeted with great celebrations by students, parents and teachers alike, with college principal Mr. Denis Healy praising the efforts of the students and saluting the massive commitment of the four teachers who put such long hours into supporting the students. He also extended his appreciation to the college’s partners in the project, EMC. Davis College now looks forward with anticipation to the international stage of the competititon in Los Angeles, California, in the new year. The college is also proud of its emerging reputation as a leader of quality teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and maths.