New Dates & Location for the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championship!

[Amanda Morrison]

Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and Northrop Grumman Foundation Announce New Dates & Location for the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championship

ROCKWALL, Texas – September 4, 2014 – The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation and the Northrop Grumman Foundation today announced that the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championship will take place on April 15 – 18, 2015 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. This intense four-day annual robotics-engineering tournament will attract more than 800 teams and 15,000 students from over 25 countries to celebrate their accomplishments and further inspire their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“The VEX Robotics World Championship has grown significantly in the past few years and we are excited to move the event to the Kentucky Exposition Center, where the larger venue and new amenities will provide an incredible world class experience to the students, teachers, mentors, and parents who join us each year,” said Jason Morrella, president, REC Foundation. “We look forward to exploring the greater Louisville area and welcoming hundreds of VEX Robotics teams in April.”

“We’ve expanded our support for VEX Robotics not only due to the energy and excitement that each student who is part of this program shows, but also because of the dedication of the leadership team and their commitment to increasing student interest in STEM,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. “As more and more students get a chance to experience VEX Robotics, we make progress in our efforts to expand global interest in STEM.”

Over the past year, the expanded partnership with the Northrop Grumman Foundation positioned the REC Foundation to respond to growing demand in communities in the U.S. and around the world with support for competition events and new team grants. With significant support from organizations like the Northrop Grumman Foundation and growing interest from students across the U.S. and internationally, the REC Foundation continues to experience 30% annual team growth. In order to keep up with growing demand, the REC Foundation secured the Kentucky Exposition Center, which offers 1.2 million square feet, two attached arenas, an adjoining amusement park, proximity to the airport and a variety of local attractions.

“Louisville has many unique experiences to offer students and their families,” said Karen Williams, president & CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “From the Muhammad Ali Center to Louisville Slugger to the Kentucky Derby Museum, this city embraces the spirit of competition and the importance of education. This competition will bring an estimated $5 million in economic impact but it will also draw young bright minds to see what current and future possibilities exist in our great city.”

“With exhibit space and parking all on one level, the Kentucky Exposition Center provides the easy load in and out for the many robots the attendees use. Since this is a youth-oriented event, our campus will provide a safe and secure environment for the attendees and guests,” said Rip Rippetoe, President & CEO, Kentucky State Fair Board which manages the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The REC Foundation manages the VEX IQ Challenge, the VEX Robotics Competition and VEX U, which engages student teams worldwide with hands-on, curriculum-based robotics engineering programs while also providing valuable teamwork and problem-solving experience. Teams compete year-round at more than 800 events that culminate in April at the VEX Robotics World Championship.

VEX Robotics is the largest middle and high school robotics program in the world with more than 10,000 teams in all 50 states and more than 30 countries. To learn more about the REC Foundation, please visit www.RoboticsEducation.org or to locate a competition event, please visit www.RobotEvents.com.

About the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

The REC Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry and the nonprofit community to achieve this work.

About Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to expanding and enhancing the pipeline of diverse, talented STEM students globally. They provide funding to STEM programs that span from preschool to high school and through collegiate levels, with a major emphasis on middle school students and teachers. Northrop Grumman employees actively volunteer in support of many STEM organizations in their communities and internationally. In 2012, Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation continued outreach efforts by contributing approximately $22.8 million to diverse STEM-related groups such as the Air Force Association (CyberPatriot), Conservation International (ECO Classroom),the REC Foundation (VEX Robotics)and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports diverse and sustainable programs for students and teachers. These programs create innovative education experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For more information please visit www.northropgrumman.com/foundation.

About the Kentucky Exposition Center

One of the top 10 largest public facilities of its kind in the United States, the Kentucky Exposition Center features 1.2 million square feet of indoor space and accommodates a wide variety of events year round. The expo center is the permanent home for the Kentucky State Fair, the National Farm Machinery Show, and the North American International Livestock Exposition. Located adjacent to the Louisville International Airport and near the junction of three major interstates, the Kentucky Exposition Center is easily accessible and just five minutes south of downtown Louisville. For more information, visit www.kyexpo.org. Also like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kyexpocenter and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/kyexpocenter.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Fantastic that it's moved to a different weekend than the FIRST Championship. I know that certain people in the past (ahem Karthik) have had to choose between the two, and it's better when everyone who is involved in VEX and FIRST has the option of going to both championships.

[waialua359]

Great choice of Venue and City.
We had a chance to visit the downtown area, its surrounding areas, and the venue this past summer. Very close to the airport as well.
This makes it easier for teams that participate in both programs and for those that have to fly there, to buy 1 R/T airfare tickets for our group.

[Koko Ed]

That's very much in driving distance and settles nicely right in the "bye" week between the District championships and the FIRST Championships
And me with another week of vacation to use up.....