# @illinoismechse on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFx1dRNhH7t
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26503954-illinoismechse-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a374359590.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-07T16:44:29.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** MechSE at Illinois (@illinoismechse) — https://gondola.cc/illinoismechse

## Caption

On January 25th, Illini VEX Robotics hosted the second annual Cornfield Clash Jr. robotics competition at @illinois.cif This was their largest event ever with 36 high school teams made up of hundreds of students from across Illinois and Indiana, competing to qualify for the state championships. Teams competed in the VEX Robotics Competition Game "High Stakes", where robots try to win matches by scoring rings, climbing a tall ladder, and making risky decisions to multiply their own score or negate their opponent's.

The tournament is more than just a competition—it’s a vital opportunity for high school students, particularly from central and southern Illinois, to engage in robotics and STEM. Due to the limited number of VEX competitions in these regions, this event provides a platform for teams who might not otherwise get the chance to compete. The event is also an opportunity for Illini Vex Robotics and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to foster STEM learning among the hundreds of high school aged students.

The competition wasn't just the head-to-head matches. Teams were also interviewed by judges and submitted an engineering design notebook that documented their progress. Both of those things merited judged awards such as the Design or Innovate awards.

All students are natural scientists and engineers. They love to question, tinker, experiment and play. VEX competitions foster these skills and capitalize on the motivational effects of competitions and robotics to help all students create an identity as a STEM learner. VEX competitions are also a great way to expose students to valuable soft skills like communication, collaboration and time-management in a fun and authentic way. The VEX Robotics competition prepares students to become future innovators with 95% of participants reporting an increased interest in STEM subject areas and pursuing STEM-related careers. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels and culminate at the VEX Robotics World Championship each April!

Follow @illinivexrobotics and @vexrobotics to learn more and get involved!

## Stats

- **Views:** 1,233
- **Likes:** 125
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 6

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rheanna Lewis | @rheannajenee | https://gondola.cc/rheannajenee | Videographer |
| Rheanna Lewis | @rheannajenee | https://gondola.cc/rheannajenee | Social Media Intern |

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