In an extraordinary leap from local competition to the global stage, the St John’s Grammar Robotics Team recently represented Australia at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Competing against the best student engineers from around the globe, the team held their own, winning 4 out of 10 qualification matches and gaining invaluable experience in the process.
Their journey began in November at the State Championships at UniSA Mawson Lakes, where they claimed victory and earned a place at the Australian National Championships. There, they were awarded the Excellence Award—the highest honour, recognising all-round excellence in engineering, design, teamwork, and performance — securing their ticket to the World Championships.
Thanks to the support from team families and our generous sponsors: Westpac, SA Government Department for Education, Design and Technology Teachers Association of South Australia, QuayClean, Design Inc and Tonkin Engineers Adelaide – the team then headed off in May to Dallas, Texas to compete on a world stage.
In Dallas, the team participated in daily qualification matches, forming alliances with international teams. Each match required strategic planning and adaptability, especially when navigating language barriers. The challenge? To design and operate a robot that could place coloured rings on stakes—simple in concept, but demanding in execution.
The students demonstrated a wide range of STEM skills, including mechanical design, electronics, coding, and physics. They also excelled in teamwork, documentation, and live judging interviews. Their efforts earned them a second judges’ interview, placing them in strong contention for another award— an impressive feat on the world stage!
This achievement is especially significant given the short history of robotics at St John’s Grammar. In just two years, the team has gone from newcomers to international contenders — a testament to their dedication, creativity, and resilience. We were also delighted that Old Scholar Peter Knight was honoured as a member of Australia’s ‘flag contingent’!
Beyond the competition, the event was a celebration of global collaboration. The event was a cultural melting pot, where students from around the globe came together with a shared passion.
Looking ahead, the team is already back in the workshop, designing and building their next robot with their sights set on returning to the world stage in 2025/26. With their growing experience and unwavering drive, the future of robotics at St John’s Grammar looks incredibly bright.
