Flagstaff Academy Dragon Bots Robotics Team Shines in VEX IQ Competitions
Longmont, CO – April 8, 2025 – The Flagstaff Academy Charter School girls’ 4th-grade robotics team, known as the Dragon Bots, is making waves across the country with their impressive performance in VEX IQ Competitive Robotics tournaments. This group of four talented 4th-grade girls—Samantha Talluri, Markayla Hyde, Aaradhya Thakar, and Avery Lam—has been setting personal records and collecting numerous awards along the way.
The Dragon Bots’ season kicked off at Mead Elementary, where the team’s collaborative spirit earned them the TeamWork Award, which secured them a spot at the VEX IQ Rapid Relay Colorado State Championships. Their remarkable performance at Mead also earned the team an invitation to the prestigious CREATE U.S. Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Dragon Bots will represent the state of Colorado as the only team competing in the VEX IQ division for both elementary and middle school teams from the state.
At their next tournament at Grand View Elementary, the Dragon Bots continued their winning streak, taking home the Excellence Award and the Robot Skills Champion title. At Prairie Ridge Elementary, the team showcased their skills once more, earning the Robot Skills Champion title again, as well as the Design Award.
The team’s achievements culminated at the Colorado State Championships, where they were awarded both the Innovate Award and the TeamWork Award, qualifying them for the VEX IQ Rapid Relay World Championships in Dallas, Texas, taking place from May 12th-14th. With more than 400 teams from around the globe expected, this championship will be the grand finale of the Dragon Bots’ incredible season.
Most recently, the team competed in the U.S. Championships in Iowa from March 31 to April 2, where they met, competed, and collaborated with teams from across the United States and beyond. The Dragon Bots were the sole representatives of Colorado at this prestigious tournament. The team beat their previous records, scoring 332 points in the skills competition and a season best 109 points in their teamwork alliance challenge. The team also took home the Innovate Award in the Elementary division.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Dragon Bots and all that they’ve accomplished so far,” said Dragon Bots Coach, J.R. Kerbel. “Their hard work, determination, and collaborative spirit have made them a standout team, and we’re excited to see what they’ll achieve next.”
The Dragon Bots will continue practicing with other teams in the SVVSD district to prepare for their world stage debut in Dallas. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to continuous improvement have been instrumental in their success this season.
“The Dragon Bots' journey is a testament to the PRIDE values of perseverance, respect, integrity, dependability, and empathy that our students practice every day,” said Flagstaff Academy Executive Principal, Katie Gustafson. “My hope is that these young ladies are an inspiration to inspire other young minds in the world of robotics.”
About Flagstaff Academy:
Flagstaff Academy is a preschool through eighth grade public charter school located in Longmont, CO. Flagstaff Academy is now in its nineteenth year of operation, serving approximately 800 students and employing nearly 95 faculty and staff.
The school’s mission is to “develop students who are equipped to be well-rounded, ethical leaders in the world community with a foundation based on science and technology.” The school’s curriculum is rich with experiential arts, hands-on science exploration, character education, and innovative technology integration. Learn more at www.flagstaffacademy.org.
For media enquiries contact: Alisa Stephens, communications coordinator, [email protected], (720) 864-9096.