Akron Roobotics showcases STEM outreach with inaugural Rubber City Rumble

The University of Akron (UA) welcomed hundreds of middle and high school students to campus in early January as the Akron Roobotics student design team hosted the first Rubber City Rumble, an in-person VEX V5 Robotics Competition that brought together aspiring engineers from across the region.

The event drew 71 teams from 19 schools, with an estimated 400 students, coaches, volunteers and spectators in attendance. Teams traveled to UA to design, build and compete with their robots in this year's fast-paced VEX engineering challenge.

The Rubber City Rumble featured multiple competition fields, skills and practice areas, and live match commentary streamed online. Student teams ranging from middle school through high school tested their engineering, programming and teamwork skills through a full day of qualifying matches, judged interviews and skills challenges.

The competition emphasized positive, respectful and student-centered participation, aligning with the REC Foundation's core values. Lunch was provided for all participating teams, and the event concluded with awards and closing remarks recognizing standout performances.

Multiple awards were presented throughout the day, honoring excellence in robot performance, design, skills and collaboration. A full list of award recipients is available on the official VEX Robotics Competition event page.

The event was livestreamed with support from ZTV, an Emmy Award-winning, student-led television station at UA, allowing families, schools and supporters to follow the competition remotely. A webcast of the competition is available online, with versions featuring commentary and without commentary.

"I'm incredibly proud of Akron Roobotics and the way our students showed up for the Rubber City Rumble," shared team captain Jacob Yost, a senior mechanical engineering student at UA. "Members of our team served as event organizers, volunteers and mentors, and their dedication reflects our commitment to community engagement and STEM outreach. We're also grateful to the many volunteers who helped keep the competition running smoothly, as well as to the Jean Hower Taber Student Union, Physical Facilities and the UA Police Department for their outstanding on-campus support. The event was led by head referee Christopher Morris, a UA alumnus, whose experience and leadership were instrumental in guiding teams through a successful competition."

About Akron Roobotics

Akron Roobotics is a VEX U robotics design team at The University of Akron. Each year, students collaborate to design, build and program robots that compete in two-versus-two elimination tournaments across the country. Through competition, team members gain hands-on experience in the engineering design process, coding, manufacturing, communication and teamwork. For more information, contact [email protected].

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