Craft Academy excel in Robot Gladiator competition season
Students from the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics at Morehead State University continue to demonstrate their engineering expertise and competitive drive during the Robot Gladiator League season, highlighted by strong performances and hands-on learning opportunities.
This spring, Craft Academy’s RGL teams competed in their fourth event of the season. The junior team entered the competition after installing entirely new weapon systems on their robots, a project that required extensive preparation and technical precision. Their efforts paid off with a decisive 85–0 victory over Grant County CTC.
The senior team also spent time preparing for the competition by addressing prior challenges and refining their robot designs. Their efforts led to a win over Bluegrass Community and Technical College in the final moments of the match, highlighting their technical skills and teamwork.
Beyond competition, students engaged in valuable networking opportunities with representatives from Newton’s Attic, Kentucky Education, SpaceTrek, and the Craft family. Organizations that have supported the program throughout the season.
“They have invested a significant amount of time designing, building, testing, and refining their robots, so seeing that work come together in a competitive setting was incredibly meaningful. Students recognized what it took to get there, and you could see a real sense of ownership in their work and growth in their confidence,” said Visiting Assistant Professor of Research & Craft QEP Dr. Rachel Rogers (Class of 2000, 2003, 2004, 2014).
The season culminated in the state championship on April 25 at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where Craft Academy students competed against top teams from across Kentucky.
Rogers emphasized the experiential nature of the program and its impact on student learning.
“They were engaged in authentic engineering design, real-time problem solving, and team-based decision making. They had to iterate quickly, troubleshoot under pressure, and apply technical skills in a live environment, which is very different from traditional classroom learning,” she said.
The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics is a dual-credited academy for academically exceptional Kentucky students. Craft Academy provides students with a postsecondary residential experience to complete their junior and senior high school years by enrolling in college courses. The Craft Academy aims to meet the unique educational needs of the Commonwealth's academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. The academic rigor of the Craft Academy challenges students to excel at their highest level through project-based STEM+X courses and hands-on learning experiences emphasizing innovation, design, creativity, and civic and regional engagement.
To learn more about the program, contact the academy at craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2093.
