February 20, 2017. Louisville, KY. – Get ready to ROBORUMBLE! Indiana University Southeast is partnering with the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation and Jefferson Country Public Schools to bring a regional STEM robotics competition to the 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival schedule. The Indiana University Southeast RoboRumble Regional Robotic Tournament, set for Saturday, March 4, will allow students to design, build and compete with robots. Students and teams from Jefferson County schools, as well as around the region are invited to participate. The deadline to enter the competition is February 24th. For registration information, please contact Pam Howell at (502) 485-3010 or email pamela.howell@jeffersonkyschools.us.

“An education rooted in STEM helps bridge ethnic and gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields resulting in quality, high-paying career opportunities,” said Dr. Ray Wallace, Chancellor of IU Southeast. “This RoboRumble Regional Robotic Tournament provides hands-on and minds-on lessons for students; making math and science both fun and interesting which helps the student do much more than just learn.”

“Join us for the 7th Annual Lego Regional Robotics Tournament and see how students are using 21st Century and programming skills to design, build and compete with robots,” said Pam Howell, JCPS Specialist II, Computer Education Support.

The 2017 RoboRumble will include four events:

• RXC “Fun at the Fair” Challenge requires teams to program their robot to solve specific challenges within time restraints.
• Sumobot Competition is a double-elimination tournament. In each round, two robots will attempt to remove or disable one another while remaining on an elevated circular platform.
• Live Programming event involves on the spot programming. Teams are given multiple tasks at the competition, they then have two hours to build or program their robot to successfully complete those tasks.
• Robotic Usage has students focus on creating a robot under one of two functions; either it is a transformation of another item or it transforms the way one would perform a task.

The competition on March 4, will be held at Ramsey Middle School. Doors open at 8 AM with competition beginning at 9 AM, and the Award Ceremony will follow at 4 PM. The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation event is sponsored by Indiana University Southeast and coordinated by Jefferson County Public Schools.

About KDFF:  The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, a 501 C 3 not-for-profit charity, receives and manages charitable contributions on behalf of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc., its supporters and the general public. The Foundation preserves the Festival’s impact on the community by developing projects that highlight the Festival’s influence on the area’s cultural heritage.  It works to further the Festival’s educational and charitable mission through exhibitions and performances.