UPDATE: Hereford Middle Robotics Team Headed to World Championships

(UPDATE 5:28 p.m.)— The Hereford Middle School robotics team that won the judges' award at the Baltimore County Public Schools' VEX Robotics Competition will compete in VEX Robotics World Championships.

The team, named 'Accident Prone,' won the VEX Central Division Qualifier tournament in Virginia on Saturday, said Chris Putnam, the advisor for the school's robotics team. This secured it a spot in the world championships, which will be held in Disney Land in Anaheim, CA on April 19-21.

In addition, the team, which consists of eighth grade students Steve DiBeradino, Joe Meseke and Will Fern, also received awards for excellence, programming skills, robot skills and judges' choice.

Accident Prone competed against 32 other middle school teams at the Virginia Tournament, Putnam said.

To financially sponsor the team for its trip to California, email Putnam at cputnam@bcps.org.

(ORIGINAL)— Hereford Middle School claimed three awards in the Baltimore County Public Schools' VEX Robotics Competition.

Three teams from Hereford were awarded with the sportsmanship, energy (team spirit) and judges' awards, respectively.

The judges' award was given to the team who deserved special recognition but may not have received recognition through existing awards.

"Since their last tournament [those team members] have worked hard to improve their robot’s functions and performance," said , a technology education teacher. "The judges interviewed the team and noted how the boys were determined to improve their autonomous function, for example."

Hereford and were the only middle schools that won awards at the competition, which took place on Feb. 25 at Sollers Point Technical High School. A total of 18 Baltimore County middle and high schools participated.

The Hereford Middle robotics club can be seen next at the VEX Robotics Mid-Atlantic Championship on March 10 in Westminister.