Smithfield High School’s robotics team and Isle of Wight County Schools’ welding students brought home honors after attending the SkillsUSA Virginia State Leadership Conference and Competition, held April 4-6 in Roanoke.

The robotics team made an impressive showing in two separate competitions. Students Emily Miller and John Worthington captured gold in the Mobile Robotics Technology competition. This rigorous event included three components: the VEX High Stakes game, a comprehensive engineering notebook, and a formal interview with judges.

In the VEX challenge, teams had just 90 seconds to direct their robot to pick up goals and place donut-shaped rings onto goalposts before transporting them to designated zones. The SHS team’s robot was scored across both autonomous and driver-controlled rounds.

Their engineering notebook stood out for its thorough documentation, including design process notes, data, and CAD drawings. Miller and Worthington began building their robot in August 2024 and competed in regional VEX competitions in Richmond earlier this year to refine their design. Their gold medal win qualifies them to compete at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta this June.

Students Amberlyn Fruchey and Vincent JaimeSawyer earned the bronze medal in the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Robotics competition. Their robot successfully navigated a search area designed to simulate an urban rescue mission, locating hidden “ordinances” inside small structures.

The challenge required precision, teamwork, and communication, with one team member guiding the robot operator by voice using real-time camera feedback. Their engineering notebook and interview performance also contributed to their final score. The Smithfield High Engineering instructor is Heather Greer.

Meanwhile, students in the IWCS welding career and technical education program demonstrated strength in technical skill and teamwork. Students Nathan McDonough and Gavin Howell of SHS and Chris Barrett of Windsor High School competed in Team Fabrication, showcasing their ability to work with various metals, interpret blueprints, and construct complex welded projects from raw materials. James Ferguson SHS competed in the Individual welding event, representing Isle of Wight.

The original Fabrication Team had previously earned second place in the individual welding category at the district level. The IWCS welding program is led by instructor Paul Miller.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work, dedication, and success at the state level,” said IWCS Superintendent Theo Cramer. “Their achievements reflect the strength of our CTE programs and the commitment of our educators and mentors.”