Orange, CA - January 24, 2017 - Orange Unified School District is proud to announce that Crescent Elementary Robotics Team 15A, Crescent Scoring Machine, has advanced to the State level VEX IQ Competition in Pomona this March.  Both Crescent teams, 15A Scoring Machine and 15B Crescent Crossovers, competed at the January 21 event in Palos Verdes.  The Crescent Scoring Machine won the STEM Award and Teamwork/Alliance Award, both of which qualified them to compete at the State level.    The Crescent Crossovers won the Judges Award.      

Coached by Crescent teachers Jennie Bond and Natalie Carias, Team 15A Scoring Machine members include Andrew Nguyen, Elizabeth Teng, Rishi Patel, Ben Andrews, Devin Williams, Madison Kelly, Sasha Kim, Kiera Low and Sree Vadlamudi.   Team 15B’s Crescent Crossovers include  Tanuj Basu, Joshua Teng, Ishan Trivedi, Duke Mullen, Kayal Shorey, Rohaan Trivedi, Tanish Basu, Jibril Dadabhoy, Sophia Gerges and Niyati Godha.        

"We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Teacher Advisors Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Carias, as well as the time contributed by our parent volunteers, to support our students so they can do their best," stated Principal Shelé Tamaki. "Our strong Robotics program demonstrates 21st century learning to increase and strengthen student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education while preparing our students to be college and career ready.”

The school's Robotics program is open to all students in grades three through six and eligibility to compete is based on an application process including a commitment to work and practice with the teams after school and on weekends.   The student teams work collaboratively to problem-solve, think critically, design the STEM project and build the robots in order to compete.  Sponsored by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, these VEX IQ competitions utilize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education as well as social skills to increase and enrich learning.