Students battle bots, build skills at annual “Robot Royale”

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – It may have looked like a series of battles inside Western Kentucky University’s Downing Student Union, but the only clashes happening were between student-built robots.

Hundreds of students from across Warren County and surrounding areas gathered Tuesday for the annual Robot Royale, a hands-on event that blends competition with computer science education.

Adam Vincent, a digital learning coach with Warren County Public Schools, said the event continues to grow each year, giving students of all ages a chance to explore robotics in a fun, competitive environment.

“It’s a day for students all around our county and surrounding counties to come,” Vincent said. “We’ve got robots that are following lines with light sensors. We got robots that are playing sumo wrestling and pushing each other off a board.”

While the competitions draw excitement, educators say the event’s true purpose goes beyond winning.

Jackie McCorkle, a Warren County Edtech ambassador, said students are gaining valuable skills that extend far beyond robotics.

“Students are here competing in robotics challenges, but they’re also having an opportunity to learn about different robotics and coding and technology tools,” McCorkle said. “Students here are practicing their computational thinking skills, their creativity skills… they’re working on collaborating with peers and their communication.”

For many students, the experience is both challenging and rewarding.

“Basically, like, you compete in different challenges to, against other teams, which, like, creates your thinking and learning,” said Aziz, a fifth grader.

Kipley, also a fifth grader, said the competition pushes students to think strategically.

“It really helps you learn how to code better. It makes you think how you’re going to strategize, what, how are you going to build a robot,” Kipley said.

Other students, like Brooklyn and Tugce, said the event teaches perseverance when things don’t go as planned.

“It teaches us to never give up, even if our first one fails,” Brooklyn said. “And it teaches us that mistakes are just a part of learning,” Tugce added.

That same message was echoed by Scarlett, Karley and Ruby, who said teamwork plays a big role in overcoming challenges.

“It helps us, like, work together and show respect to everyone,” Karley said. “It also shows good leadership and stuff like that.”

For older students, Robot Royale is also an opportunity to inspire younger participants and showcase what’s possible with continued learning.

Brayden, a junior at Warren Central High School, said he hopes students see robotics as a starting point rather than a finish line.

“I want them to see that Lego isn’t where it ends,” Brayden said. “Lego’s just the stopping point where you can start and then you can grow.”

Students Helia and Aron, also from Warren Central, said the event helps them explore future career paths while giving back to younger students.

“It definitely helps narrow down, like, a lot of, like, my interests and things,” Aron said. “It just helps me, like, get a feel for what different careers like that could sort of be like for me in the future.”

They added that one of the highlights is interacting with younger students eager to learn more.

From first-time coders to experienced robotics students, Robot Royale continues to provide a space where curiosity, creativity and competition come together, one robot at a time.