Pictured from left: Mason White (head robotics engineer) Xeria Cabral (STEM mentor) Adisyn White, Jesse Garcia, Jevon Porter, Makayla Porter, Alec Yarborough, Preston Christianson, Elijah Bell, Gio Hernandez. Not pictured: Jennifer Trevizo, Jeremiah Gilmore, Roman Deliz

The Rex Robotics Team from Santa Cruz Elementary School went to the Salt River VexIQ Tournament on Saturday.

Twenty-four teams competed in the robotics tournament. At this competition, the Santa Cruz team won the Elementary Excellence Award – the highest award given in the elementary category. The award is given to the team that shows determination, passion and sportsmanship, along with robotics skills aligned with a STEM research project.

The team started their work in November and this was their second competition. At the first competition in Pinetop, they also won the Elementary Excellence Award. These awards have qualified them to attend the VexIQ Arizona State Championships Feb. 18 in Glendale.