VEX Robotics News
Battle of the Bots thrills record crowd
A record 42 teams competed in this year's Battle of the Bots
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December competition slideshow
Get a glimpse behind the scenes of an OPEF VEX Competition.
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Rain, Robots & Babies
Julian VEX Robotics’ competitive coach Kevin Berger shared his notes on a recent rainy Saturday morning practice. The rainy Saturday […]
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Resource 1 Challenge Grant Announced
OPEF is thrilled to announce that Resource 1, a leading IT consulting firm in the Chicagoland area, kicked off a […]
Read More ›2017-18 Season
League Event
DECEMBER 9, 2017
Julian at Brooks Middle School
Robot Rumble
DECEMBER 11, 2017
Julian In-House League
Robot Rumble
DECEMBER 12, 2017
Brooks In-House League
League Events
JANUARY 20, 2018
Brooks at Hauser Middle School
Julian at Heritage Middle School
League Events
FEBRUARY 10, 2018
Glenside, Heritage at Brooks Middle School
Elm, Hauser at Julian Middle School
Battle of the Bots
League Championship
MARCH 3, 2018
at Julian Middle School
Robot Rumble
MARCH 6, 2018
Brooks In-House League
Robot Rumble
MARCH 14, 2018
Julian In-House League
League Rankings
2017-18 Season
A Premier "STEM" Program
Thinking, planning, testing...
and revising like an engineer is a life-changing, career-molding experience.
Working closely with adult mentors...
in tech fields, students see the relevance of their schoolwork and the joy of thinking, planning and testing like an engineer.
Our students build confidence...
and competence, whether or not they pursue a career in STEM, as the next generation’s problem-solvers, creative thinkers and team players.
We hire our own VEX graduates...
to help plan and organize the program and serve as role models and mentors to middle school students.
Exciting Engineering Challenges
Teams of students design, build and program robots to play the annual VEX Robotics Challenge game at local and regional competitions. Launched in 2005, this innovative program uses the excitement of competitive sports to get kids turned on to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
We are an award-winning program that is recognized both in Illinois and nationally as a premier STEM program.
We are working to promote STEM education in the Chicago area, and provide free advice to Chicago-area schools that wish to start their own VEX Robotics programs. Since 2012, we have helped start many of the middle school robotics programs in Illinois.
Last year we also hosted MakerSpace Clubs at both middle schools to continue our mission to provide exciting and innovative STEM programs to D97 students.
Our Battle of the Bots Tournament hosted thirty-eight teams and more than 300 people in 2017.
In 2016-17, we qualified 13 teams for the IL Middle School VEX Robotics State Championship and won 9 trophies, including the Tournament Champions Award.
VEX ROBOTICS:
brings in professionals to mentor students in the skills they need
enables students to learn STEM through hands-on projects
teaches teamwork, leadership, creativity, problem-solving and project management skills
builds a technologically literate work force and creates a pipeline for future employees
OPEF VEX Robotics Team Member
"From robotics I learned to be patient (even when things are stressful!), to communicate with teammates/peers and how to overcome things I never thought were possible for me to achieve."
Parent of OPEF VEX Robotics Team Member
“He’s not a sports program participant, so this was a marvelous way for him to be engaged with something. I was amazed to find him become a leader and ‘take charge’ guy when necessary. He grew highly skilled in problem solving and confident enough to be able to abandon solutions in favor of new solutions and consequences.”
OPEF VEX Robotics Female High School Mentor & Former Team Member
“What I didn’t know before I joined the VEX Robotics program is that I am really good at computer programming. This is something that I hope I can develop into a career and I have the VEX Robotics program to thank.”
Parent of OPEF VEX Robotics Team Member
“This was an amazingly positive experience for my daughter. . . She has had the invaluable experience of learning to speak her mind, think creatively, and be an active participant in a group setting.”
AwardS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Excellence Award
- Tournament Champion
- Tournament Finalists
- Robot Skills Winner
- Design Award
- Think Award
- Sportsmanship Award
- Excellence Award
- 2 Tournament Champions
- Robot Skills Winner
- Build Award
- Design Award
- Sportsmanship Award
- Think Award
OPEF 2017 Battle of the Bots Middle School Tournament:
- 2 Tournament Champions
- 2 Tournament Finalists
- Robot Skills Winner
2016 Cougar VEX Starstruck Challenge:
- 2 Tournament Champions
- Tournament Champion
- Programming Skills Winner
- Robot Skills Winner
- Amaze Award
- Build Award
- Create Award
- Design Award
- Energy Award
- Sportsmanship Award
OPEF 2016 Battle of the Bots Middle School Tournament:
- Excellence Award
- Tournament Champion
- 3 Tournament Finalists
- Programming Skills Winner
- Robot Skills Winner
- Design Award
- Innovate Award
- Middle School Excellence Award
- Tournament Champion
- Middle School Design Award
- Programming Skills Award
- Sportsmanship Award
OPEF 2015 Battle of the Bots Middle School Tournament:
- Excellence Award
- Tournament Champion
- Tournament Finalist
- Programming Skills Award
- Robot Skills Award
- Design Award
- Build Award
- Innovate Award
- Judges Award
- Sportsmanship Award
- Think Award
2014 Illinois State Championship:
- Middle School Excellence Award
- Tournament Champion
OPEF 2014 Battle of the Bots Middle School Tournament:
- Tournament Champion
- Design Award
- Robot Skills Winner
- Innovate Award
Quarterfinals, 2013 U.S. National VEX Robotics Championship-Middle School Division
Tournament Finalists, 2013 Wildstang VEX Robotics Competition
“We Can’t Do It Without You”
$500 pays for one student to participate in OPEF’s VEX Robotics club and compete in tournaments.
Michele McAndrews
VEX Robotics Coordinator / mmcandrews@opef.orgMichele McAndrews lives in Oak Park with her husband and three teenage children. For the past 15 years Michele has been an active volunteer in the Oak Park community including serving on the Board of Pilgrim Nursery School, Girl Scout Troop Leader and Vex Robotics Parent Mentor. Michele also has run Brooks Middle School’s primary PTO fundraiser since 2013. Before moving to Oak Park, Michele had a successful career in Management and Customer Service.
Kristi Braun
Kristi Braun has been an active volunteer with VEX Robotics since 2012, when her daughter first joined the program at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School. Kristi’s experience includes 16 years of sales, business and product development in the financial services industry. She most recently worked for Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry as Community Program Manager. Kristi has a BA in Business with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Photography from the University of Missouri. She resides in Oak Park with her husband and two daughters.
Join Our Growing Team of Sponsors
The following businesses and organizations provide financial support for OPEF VEX Robotics. Please show your appreciation by patronizing these businesses and thanking them for their support!
For more information on how you can support us, contact: Karen Daily, OPEF Director of Development.
PLATINUM SPONSOR ($5,000 +)
GOLD SPONSOR ($2500+)
SILVER SPONSOR ($1,000+)
BOOSTER SPONSOR ($250+)
- OPEF VEX COACHES:
- Marc Bishop, Head Coach
- John McDowell, Head Coach
- Joe Casanovas, Competitive Club Coach
- Tasia Pena-Rodriguez, In-House League Coach
- Gretchen Junker, In-House League Coach
- OPEF VEX COACHES:
- Tim Walsh, Head Coach
- Kevin Berger, Competitive Club Coach
- Jason Morrell, Competitive Club Coach
- Gretchen Junker, In-House League Coach
- Miranda Tucker, In-House League Coach
Volunteer with VEX
Frequently Asked Questions
More Information about OPEF VEX Robotics
- bringing in professionals to mentor students in the skills they need
- enabling students to learn STEM through hands-on projects
- teaching teamwork, leadership, creativity, problem-solving and project management skills
- building a technologically literate work force and creating a pipeline for future employees
The season ends with the Chicagoland Robotics League Championship, typically in early March.