EAPC Architects Engineers Proudly Supports
North Dakota’s Largest Robotics Event
The UND College of Engineering & Mines recently hosted the North Dakota Signature VEX Robotics Event at the Alerus Center, a significant gathering for young engineering minds and robotics enthusiasts. Presented by Bifrost Manufacturing, this multi-day event from October 31 to November 2 drew over 1,500 students across 250 teams, who arrived to compete, collaborate, and innovate within the exciting field of robotics.
Robots did indeed invade Grand Forks from November 1-2, but teams of high school students from across the nation and Canada ultimately emerged victorious in the inaugural North Dakota Signature event. Early November saw these talented students pit their robots—motorized platforms on wheels able to grasp and manipulate objects—against each other in a thrilling test of skill and ingenuity.
The goal of the competition? Move a series of objects to a set location in a set amount of time to earn points. The kicker? The students built these robots themselves, under the guidance of coaches and mentors and adhering to the league specifications of VEX Robotics.
VEX Robotics is celebrated as one of the world’s largest middle and high school robotics competitions, with over 20,000 teams from 50 countries participating worldwide. Each year, students receive a unique engineering challenge presented in the form of a game, which they tackle by designing, building, and programming robots.
Andrew Dahlen, UND lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and event organizer, said hosting it at the Alerus Center, where UND plays football, was an opportunity to honor the students’ efforts in an impressive fashion. “We're just celebrating their talent,” Dahlen said. “These young folks are doing all the right things, and we want to elevate what they're doing by showing it to the public and giving them that recognition on a grand stage.”
The competition not only provided a platform for young innovators to showcase their skills but also aimed to spark interest in STEM careers. “We need to do something to get young folks excited and interested in STEM and engineering science careers,” Dahlen added.
Killian Erickson, CEO of Bifrost Manufacturing, emphasized the importance of events like VEX Robotics in exposing students to valuable career opportunities. “Our primary goal is building awareness of who we are and developing the workforce for the future,” he shared.
The North Dakota Signature event’s impact extends beyond technical skills. It cultivates critical skills like communication, collaboration, and time management. According to VEX, 95% of participants report increased interest in STEM subjects and career fields. This aligns perfectly with the values of EAPC Architects Engineers, which committed to sponsoring $1,000 for each of the two winning teams to cover registration fees for the World Championship, the next step for these talented competitors.
“We’re honored to be a part of such a dynamic event that builds the next generation of engineers, programmers, and innovators,” said Lori Bakken, EAPC’s Director of Marketing. “These students are not only sharpening their technical skills but also gaining the teamwork and creative problem-solving skills essential in architecture and engineering.”
Coach Annette Beattie of Valley City High School highlighted the real-world applications of the competition. “I actually have some kids who have graduated from the program, and one is in engineering and the other in a teaching STEM field,” she said.
One standout participant, Ezra Dehaan, a junior from a Sioux Falls team, shared how VEX Robotics influenced his future aspirations. “I'm thinking Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering at the moment,” he said.
The competition also brought an economic boost to Grand Forks. Similar events at the Alerus Center have generated nearly $1 million each in local revenue. UND President Andy Armacost noted the tournament’s lasting impact: “This tournament will inspire many students to consider future studies in robotics, engineering, and science. We will show them what is possible when imagination and a sense of discovery come together to unleash incredible creativity.”
The event concluded with recognition of the winners, who will compete at the VEX Robotics World Championship in May 2024 in Dallas, Texas, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Award Winners:
- Excellence Award: TenTon Robotics, West Vancouver School District #45,
West Vancouver, British Columbia - Tournament Champions: Team ISLANDERS and Team Phoenix Rising, Tiger Robotics, Harrisburg, SD
- Design Award: Team WASHED, Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School, Omaha, NE
- Robot Skills Champion: Team Pika Pika, Pika Pika Robotics, Kaysville, UT
- Judges Award: Team Gen Z, Generation Robotics, Georgetown, TX
- Innovate Award: Team Southland Blaze, Southland High School, Adams, MN
- Think Award: Team 88909A, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA
- Amaze Award: Team Pika Pika, Pika Pika Robotics, Kaysville, UT
- Build Award: Team Cereal Killers, Cross County High School, Stromsburg, NE
- Create Award: Team Gael Force Kittens, Dublin High School, Dublin, CA
- Sportsmanship Award: Team Underdogs B, Crown Point High School, Crown Point, IN
EAPC is proud to contribute to events that inspire and shape the next generation of STEM professionals. As Lori Bakken aptly noted, “It was an impressive competition happening right here in Grand Forks, ND! We wish the winning teams all the best as they compete at Worlds next year!”
