A bunch of super smart gals from a school in Co Offaly scooped up a fancy award at the VEX World Robotics Championships in the US. The Steminists team, made up of Alice Duffy, Emily Thunder, Jasmine Matsushita, Rachel Ebenezer, and Olivia Hoey, all students at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Tullamore, were all about that innovation, teamwork, and engineering skills. They grabbed the judges’ award in Dallas, Texas, with praise for their mad skills.
These brainiacs, accompanied by their teachers Sindy Meleady and Aisling Bourke, had already taken home the gold at the VEX IQ All-Ireland Robotics Competition earlier this year. Even President Michael D Higgins got in on the action, sending the gals a personal shoutout for their dedication to STEM. More than 300 teams from all over the globe joined in on the fun, with the Irish crew wowing the judges with their robot, Agatha Trunchbull. But let’s not forget the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating Agatha, with each team member playing a crucial role in the process. Rachael Ebenezer, the Steminist’s research, strategy, and team coordinator, spilled the beans on the challenges they faced, admitting that it was all about trial and error. The girls are set to touch down in Dublin Airport on Saturday, ready to celebrate their big win.
