Aberdeen school set for robotics finals with i-Tech Services support

Pupils from an Aberdeen school are set for the final of a national robotics competition thanks to support from i-Tech Services, a Subsea 7 company.

A team of young designers from Tullos School won the Scottish heat to make it to the national final of the VEX IQ Robotics challenge. The children had to design and build a radio-controlled robot to carry out a variety of tasks.

i-Tech Services’ Products Division, based in Tullos, provided financial support after hearing that the primary 7 pupils were looking for sponsors to make sure they compete in the event in Telford on March 3-4.

John Mackay, Global Operations Manager for i-Tech Services’ Products Division, said: “Having read about Tullos winning the VEX Robotics competition, we met with the teachers and pupils and thought it was a great programme for us to support based on the nature of our business as an engineering solutions provider.

“We now hope to form a long-term relationship with the school, allowing not only the competition winners to visit the base but also the other children from primary 7 in the hope that we increase their interest further in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) subjects prior to the move to secondary education.”

The national competition features more than 60 teams from both primary and secondary schools within the private and public sector.

To get to the final, pupils Niamh Hague, Kaeden McKeon, Kiril Zabyvajev, Denis Abramov and Brooke Flood, with the help of their science teacher, Rory Holwerda, beat eight other school teams to become the Robotics Skills Champions and Robotics Team Champions in the Scottish finals held at Robert Gordon’s College last year.

Mr Holwerda said: “Thanks to the generous support from our friends at i-Tech Services, our team is incredibly excited and grateful that they are now able to attend the VEX IQ national finals in England. We're all very proud of them and wishing them the best of luck.”

Councillor John Wheeler, Education Operational Delivery Convener, added: “This is fabulous news. Thanks to i-Tech Services’ generosity, I’m sure the boys and girls in the Tullos School team will do their school proud in the UK finals next month. Good luck to the team and - fingers crossed - they will repeat the success they enjoyed in the Scottish heat.”