LISBON — Finals for the VEX IQ Elementary School Robotics Competition were held at The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center on Saturday, Feb. 15. Organized by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, 18 teams competed from East Liverpool, Southern Local and Columbiana. Qualifying for the 2025 Ohio VEX IQ ES State Championship at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio on March 11 and 12 are award winners from all three schools.

Columbiana solidified winning spots as Teamwork Champions along with Southern Local. Columbiana also earned a spot for their win of the Innovate and Excellence Awards. As well, East Liverpool earned a spot at the State competition by winning the Design Award and Skills Challenge runner-up.

Additional award recipients include: East Liverpool winning the Create Award recognizing a creative engineering design and The Energy Award for outstanding enthusiasm and excitement. East Liverpool had a triple win taking home the Amaze Award, the Inspire Award, and for their partnership win as Teamwork Challenge runner-ups alongside Columbiana. The Build Award for the most well-constructed robot went to Southern Local, as well as the Judges Award for overcoming challenges and displaying perseverance and the Sportsmanship Award for their high degree of helpfulness on and off the competition field. Columbiana also took home the Think Award and the Robot Skills Award.