South Jersey Students Compete In Robotics World Championship

ST. LOUIS — A robotics team made up of students from three Cherry Hill Schools competed at the VEX Robotics World Championship competition from Saturday through Monday.

The team was one of only two from New Jersey to qualify and was composed of Arnav Sharma, Grade 8 (Rosa International Middle School), Gregorio Andres Fasnacht, Grade 7 (Beck Middle School), and Leon Choi, Grade 9 (Cherry Hill High School East).

The VEX World Championship is the world's largest robotics competition that hosts thousands of student-led teams from 43 countries.

This year's featured game, "Push Back," called for the design, construction, and programming of robots that could complete complex tasks in a fast-paced, strategic environment.

Teams that competed and won on regional levels or ranked high in the top world skills standings qualified for the stage in St. Louis.

"As team captain, I learned that teamwork is critical to success," Sharma told Patch. "You need coordination, trust, and clear roles. I also learned how important it is to handle pressure. Competing on a global stage forces you to stay focues and composed."

Along with team building and problem-solving skills, students who aspire for careers in the science, technology, engineering, and robotics (STEM) area are afforded tactical opportunities to put their learning to the test during these types of events.

When it comes to real-world applications, the boys think Cherry Hill has plenty of untapped real estate where robots could be useful.

"I think Cooper River Park would be the most useful place," Fasnacht said. "A robot could help monitor the environment, like checking water quality, tracking litter, or helping with maintenance."

There is also the foot traffic of the Cherry Hill Mall, a volume that has Sharma enthusiastic about the chance to help the future generation of builders.

"We could set up a booth so people can see that robotics isn't as complicated as it looks. A lot of students are intimidated by programs like VEX, and showing our robot could help break that barrier," he added.

Outside of robotics, Fasnacht plays soccer and is part of the Civil Air Patrol through the Air Victory Museum Composite Squadron.

Being a citizen of both the United States and Colombia, the pride in never leaving your roots behind is at the forefront of his mind when he talked to Patch about Cherry Hill.

"Representing Cherry Hill means responsibility," Fasnacht added. "You're not just competing for yourself, you're representing your school, your town, and everyone who helped you get there."

The journey is just as important as the destination, Sharma added, telling younger kids to never hold themselves back.

"Just start. Don't overthink it. Try, fail, and try again. That's how you improve," he added.

Sharma hopes to go on to teach robotics to students, while Fasnacht has his eyes set on a future as an engineer.

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