Students from Coffee High School recently demonstrated innovation, teamwork, and engineering excellence at the Georgia VEX Robotics State Championship, where two school teams competed among the best robotics programs in the state. Their hard work paid off as one of the teams earned the highly respected Judges Award, recognizing outstanding effort, perseverance, and engineering achievement.
The VEX Robotics State Championship brings together top qualifying teams to design, build, and program robots capable of completing complex, game-based engineering challenges. Throughout the competition, students must apply principles of mechanical design, coding, problem-solving, and strategic thinking while competing in both skills challenges and head-to-head matches.
Coffee High was represented by Team 1253A and Team 1253B, both of which qualified for the state event after strong performances during the regular competition season. Students spent months designing their robots, troubleshooting mechanical systems, refining autonomous programming, and practicing driving skills.
The highlight of the event came when Team 1253B received the Judges Award, one of the competition’s most meaningful honors. This award is presented to a team that exemplifies the spirit of engineering by demonstrating determination, creativity, and the ability to overcome obstacles while maintaining a positive and collaborative approach.
“The Judges Award reflects the countless hours these students invested,” said Jerry Hill, the school’s engineering instructor and robotics coach. “They learned that engineering is a process of testing, failing, improving, and trying again. This recognition shows their growth not just as competitors, but as problem-solvers and leaders.”
Participation in VEX Robotics is part of Coffee High’s Engineering and Technology program, which emphasizes hands-on learning and prepares students for high-demand STEM careers. The program encourages students to think critically, design intentionally, and apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.
“These students are building more than robots,” Hill added. “They are building confidence, resilience, and a foundation for their future.”
