UNL’s College of Engineering hosts annual robotics tournament

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Engineering hosted its annual Vex Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon.

The competition is the largest of its kind in the Midwest, and took place at Kiewit Hall on UNL’s campus, giving high school kids an opportunity to expand their knowledge in engineering.

Robotics teams from four different states made the trip to Lincoln to compete in the event, and more than 400 people showed up to watch the tournament.

The VEXU Robotics Club at UNL said this is also a chance for students to make early connections through the College of Engineering.

“For these kids, this might be the only hands-on experience they get in high school of engineering,” said Karson Swartzbaugh “Kids also learn chemical engineering, biological engineering, manufacturing engineering, a whole bunch of other facets in the bubble of engineering.”

The high schoolers are also introduced to everything the College of Engineering has to offer.

“Additionally, we have the motorsports teams, our aerospace teams and rocket teams,” said Swartzbaugh. “We also have a prototype of the first satellite that went into space from Nebraska, all student-made. Yes, VEX robotics is cool, but it can be a stepping stone, like me, to a whole new world of opportunities in engineering. Especially in a field that’s booming right now across the country.”

After the tournament, students and guests got the chance to tour the new engineering complex, getting insight on what it might be like to go to school there.