Coinciding with National Robotics Week – Three Days of Fierce Back-to-Back Robotics Challenges Unite Leading Young Innovators From Around the World

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dedicated to inspiring today’s youth to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education through robotics, the non-profit Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, in conjunction with VEX Robotics, today announced that the 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida on April 14-16, 2011. Coinciding with National Robotics Week, the three-day tournament unites top middle school, high school and college robotics teams from around the world to celebrate their accomplishments and further inspire students to pursue careers in robotics and other STEM related fields.

“Disney’s state-of-the-art facilities will provide the ideal experience for VEX participants and fans, and we are delighted to host the VEX Robotics World Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex,” said Jason Morrella, president of the REC Foundation.

“Bringing the World Championship to such an esteemed venue as Disney provides a truly global arena for us to support and celebrate the accomplishments of today’s young, diverse and enthusiastic minds,” said Paul Copioli, president, VEX Robotics. “VEX Robotics Competitions bring the excitement of robotics to today’s youth and give them a hands-on tool to apply what they learn in school about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and bring it to life.”

The VEX Robotics Competition is the largest and fastest growing middle and high school robotics program globally with more than 2,500 teams from 20 countries playing in more than 200 tournaments worldwide. The VEX Robotics Design System is affordable, robust and offers an assortment of more than 200 of the most advanced educational robotics products available today. See www.vexrobotics.com for more information on the VEX Robotics Design System and the VEX Robotics Competition.

The 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship is the final event in the 2010-2011 VEX Competition season. Winning teams from local and state VEX Robotics Competitions will have the opportunity to meet in Florida and compete against other top-ranked teams from around the world, playing the game VEX Round Up. Giving students the opportunity to work with the VEX robotics systems promotes education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and teaches critical life skills such as teamwork, project management and problem solving.