Words and Images by Jenny Lynn Davis
Cordova High School’s Blue Devil Robotics team is gearing up for an exciting opportunity this April as they prepare to compete at the VEX Robotics World Championship Competition in Dallas, Texas.
At the recent VEX state competition held in February, the BDR Senior Citizens, consisting of seniors Kaleb Howell, AJ Freeman, and Riley (Cade) Frost, secured their ticket to Worlds by clinching the coveted Innovate Award. This accolade recognizes the team with the most innovative design and comprehensive documentation detailing its development and implementation.
Blue Devil Robotics stands among Alabama’s 13 high school teams to advance to the VEX World Championship Competition. They will be pitted against 800 teams from over 40 countries, including Australia, China, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and Finland.
Coach Amber Parsons expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments, highlighting their pioneering role in Walker County’s robotics scene.
“Kaleb, AJ, and Cade paved the way for VEX Robotics in Walker County. They were the first team ever to compete in VEX robotics from Walker County and have since mentored countless teams, including six other local teams that have earned trophies at Worlds. Now it is their turn to compete on the international stage at the highest level!”
For Howell, Freeman, and Frost, Blue Devil Robotics has been more than an extracurricular activity. Having been part of Cordova’s robotics program since its inception during their middle school years, they credit the program with imparting invaluable life skills.
“Without the robotics program, I don’t think I’d be on the same path that I am now. It ignited my interest in computer science, which I plan to major in during college,” Freeman says. Howell adds, “It has taken us away from the traditional classroom setting and given us more real-life experience. We’ve learned communication, cooperation, time management, adaptability, documentation, and so much more.”
As they prepare for the World Championship Competition, the trio approaches the event with humility and gratitude. “We could walk away from Worlds with nothing but the experience, and I would view it as an accomplished season,” says Howell.
Parsons emphasizes the broader impact of programs like Blue Devil Robotics on the community, especially with respect to initiatives like the STEM22 Program. This program, a partnership between Bevill State Community College, the Alabama Power Foundation, and the Walker Area Community Foundation, aims to cultivate interest and experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers among Walker County and Jasper City students.
“To watch these three come full circle of blazing the trail for this program to this final stage is amazing; they’ve done it all on their own,” Parsons says. “They’ve been instrumental in speaking with the committee who developed the STEM22 grant, really high-profile people, and advocating for robotics education in our area and throughout our state.”
The Walker Leader congratulates Kaleb, AJ, Cade, and Coach Parsons on this milestone and wishes them success at the World Championship Competition! WL
