I am writing to request your support for two school student teams from San Antonio who have qualified to compete at the VEX IQ World Championship, which will take place in St. Louis, Missouri from April 28–30, 2026. This international competition brings together some of the most talented student robotics teams from around the world to showcase innovation, teamwork, and engineering skills. While qualifying for this event is a remarkable achievement, the parents of these children are currently facing a significant financial hurdle related to registration fees and travel expenses.
The teams that are selected to participate in the international competition are the Robot Rebels team from Vineyard Ranch Elementary School and Q-Byte, Lopez Middle School.
The Robot Rebels team from Vineyard Ranch Elementary School proudly received innovate award and placed second in the Teamwork Championship at the Texas Regional Championship. Q-Byte from Lopez Middle School, earned the highly respected Excellence Award and also placed second in the Teamwork Championship. The Innovate award and Excellence Award qualified the teams for the VEX IQ World Championship in the Elementary School and Middle School category respectively. These teams demonstrate outstanding engineering design, teamwork, and overall performance throughout the robotics season. Both student teams have dedicated countless hours to designing, building, and programming their robots while developing critical skills in engineering, problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership.
The VEX IQ World Championship is one of the largest robotics competitions in the world. Last year’s event hosted more than 2,400 teams from over 60 countries, making it an extraordinary platform for young innovators to learn, compete, and collaborate internationally. The 2026 competition will be held at the America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis.
Although qualifying for this global competition is an incredible opportunity, attending the event involves significant costs. The estimated total cost for registration, travel, and accommodation is approximately $4,000–$5,000 combined for both students. The parents are reaching out to request your support in helping these students represent our community on the world stage.
Their situation is somewhat unique due to their school district’s travel policies. Historically, elementary teams in their district have not been permitted to travel overnight or out of state. After extensive discussions and advocacy, their administration has now granted permission for the students to attend the VEX IQ World Championship, but with the condition that the school cannot provide financial support for the registration or travel expenses.
Any contribution, large or small, would help make it possible for these students to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Your support will directly encourage young innovators and help nurture their passion for STEM education.
Thank you for considering supporting these hardworking students.
Elementary School Competition:
https://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-iq-competition/RE-VIQRC-26-4029.html#general-info
Middle School Competition:
https://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-iq-competition/RE-VIQRC-26-4028.html#general-info
More details about the event:
Organizer
