Journey From the K12 Robotics League to the World Robot Olympiad

Virginia Virtual Academy: Spotlight on Olivia, 10th Grade

From conquering virtual competitions to making a mark on the global stage, the Hello Kitty team is on a winning streak. The team’s unique blend of skills is propelling them toward the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) robotics competition, where they are set to shine.

Olivia, a 10th grade student from Virginia Virtual Academy (VAVA), will travel to Puerto Rico in October to compete with her team, Hello Kitty, in the World Robot Olympiad Open Championship for the Americas.

World Robot Olympiad

The WRO is an annual international robotics competition bringing together young innovators from around the world to showcase their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. The WRO allows students to apply their robotics skills to tackle real-world challenges. The competition fosters creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving while preparing students for future careers in STEM fields. More than 60,000 global students and 95+ countries participate in the WRO.

Meet Olivia

Olivia’s journey in STEM began long before her involvement in the K12 Robotics League. Her love for deconstructing, building, and understanding how things work led her to join the K12 Robotics League. She shares, “I enjoy robotics, coding, and LEGO, and I wanted to make more of an effort in pursuing my STEM interests.” Her passion for robotics is one of the driving forces behind Hello Kitty’s success.

“I’m particularly interested in how things work, such as building, programming, and chemistry, all of which can come together in robotics,” says Olivia. “The K12 Robotics League has helped me pursue my interest in robotics and develop skills that will be beneficial now and in the future. After participating in the K12 Robotics League and becoming a part of the all-girls K12 Hello Kitty team, I can better picture myself in a STEM field.”

Olivia, 10th grade VAVA student, member of the K12 Robotics League and Team Hello Kitty

Olivia and the Hello Kitty team’s approach to problem-solving and team collaboration has been critical to their success. Olivia says, “We came together by chance but became champions by choice. We communicate through Discord and emails and send each other ideas, images, videos, and praise. We also use K12’s video meeting software to communicate live.”

From Virtual Competitions to A World Stage

Olivia’s journey in the K12 Robotics League began in the fall of 2023. She competed in two virtual challenges and one in-person challenge for the final round. Her team’s third place in the First-Round Qualifier and second place in the Second-Round Qualifier secured their spot in the K12 Robotics League finals, where they clinched second place.

Since joining the K12 Robotics League, Olivia has competed in two in-person competitions, one with K12 and one with the WRO. The team’s third-place finish in the WRO U.S. Open earned them a spot on Team USA to compete in the WRO Open Championship for the Americas.

Leading team Hello Kitty to the WRO is Coach Phil Przybylo, the gifted and talented resource coordinator for Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) and Insight School of Oklahoma (ISOK).

Memorable Moments in Robotics

Since joining the K12 Robotics League, Olivia’s coding, teamwork, and communication skills have improved, and she has also created some memorable moments. The first time Hello Kitty’s robot completed its course was during the K12 Robotics League in-person finals, just one day before their first competition!

Hello Kitty was refining their robot’s coding ahead of the Final Round, and when asked what made it a memorable moment, Olivia adds, “We had been adjusting the code we wrote for a while, and, as a team, finally watching the robot complete the course. It felt nice to watch our hard work pay off and for the code and robot to work a second time. Finishing once could be a fluke, but completing it twice is consistent, and consistency is key.”

From Trials to Triumph

While Hello Kitty has been victorious in competing, the team has faced some challenges, especially when collaborating virtually for the first time. “Our team consists of three team members, all from different states, all with different backgrounds and experiences, and together, we are an all-girl team in a male-dominated field,” says Olivia.

“At the beginning of the K12 Robotics League, communication between the team members was challenging, but as the competition progressed, so did our communication and teamwork. In the end, we were able to get together, work together, finish together, and now continue together,” she adds.

Overcoming the challenge of team members in different locations has strengthened the team’s bond. The team’s perseverance, dedication, and can-do attitude have carried them from the K12 Robotics League to the WRO.

Olivia competing in the K12 Robotics League Finals

Competing in the World Robot Olympiad Open Championship

Olivia and the Hello Kitty team are traveling to compete in the World Robot Olympiad Open Championship in Puerto Rico from October 1–3, 2024. While preparing for this exciting competition, K12 asked Olivia if their team had any traditions or inside jokes; she told us, “We don’t have any traditions, rituals, or inside jokes—yet. Through the challenging WRO preparation ahead, there is plenty of time and space for fun and laughs.” Creating team rituals will add to the team’s dedication and fun-loving culture that keeps them motivated.

Olivia is not just looking forward to the competition, but she is also brimming with excitement. She says, “I am excited to work with Krista and Chloe as a team, compete against some of the world’s best, and meet fellow roboticists from 40+ countries with different cultures and languages. I am also excited because this will be my first time [traveling to a U.S. territory].”

The Road Ahead

The long journey from competing in virtual competitions in the K12 Robotics League to competing on a world stage in the WRO is a testament to Olivia’s and her team’s hard work, dedication, and passion for robotics.

Hello Kitty at the K12 Robotics League Finals

Hello Kitty’s journey to the WRO is a remarkable achievement. K12 is honored that these students will be a part of Team USA, representing an entire nation in the WRO Open Championship for the Americas. We wish Olivia and the Hello Kitty team the best of luck as they compete in Puerto Rico on October 1–3, 2024.

2025 K12 Robotics Competition

The K12 Robotics Competition aims to foster innovation, collaboration, critical thinking, and technical skill development for students. Registration for the 2025 K12 Robotics Competition is open to K12-powered students in grades 4–12 from October 1 through December 16, 2024.

The K12 Robotics Competition is ideal for students at all skill levels and offers one of the most affordable options for participants at $50.00 per software license.

Visit the K12 Robotics Competition website to learn more or contact [email protected].