Fairmont State’s Falcotronix Robotics Team Heads to World Championship for Third Consecutive Year
After a season of tough competition, Fairmont State University’s VEX U robotics team Falcotronix is headed to the world championship in Dallas, TX next month. This marks the team’s third consecutive year competing on the world stage since their reformation in 2022.
Falcotronix consists of Fairmont State students Jacob Bonner (Weirton, WV), Zachary Bulatko (Fairmont, WV), Nathan Barham (Hurricane, WV), Jack Savage (Augusta, WV), Garrett Clayton (Fairmont, WV), Joseph Topardo (Fairmont, WV) and Paul Lucas (Glen Dale, WV). The team is supported by funding from the NASA WV Space Grant Consortium, the NASA IV&V Education Resource Center at Fairmont State, and the College of Science and Technology. The team is advised by Musat Crihalmeanu, Associate Professor of Electronics Engineering Technology, and John Holbrook of the NASA Education Resource Center.
“Our team has put in the work, faced challenges head-on, and earned our spot at the World Championship,” said Bonner. “Winning the Design Award twice proves our commitment to innovation and teamwork. I am proud of the members and mentors who have given their time to make this possible and look forward to representing Fairmont State at Worlds."
In the VEX U Robotics Competition, presented by the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation, teams design, fabricate, assemble, program, and document two or more robots to compete against other teams in an annual game. Over 250 teams participate each season. This year’s game, “High Stakes”, tasks teams with scoring 7-inch rings on vertical posts, as well as climbing a 4-foot ladder located in the center of the field.
Throughout the regular season, Falcotronix competed in qualifying events at West Virginia University (WVU), WVU Institute of Technology, Virginia Tech, and College of Southern Maryland. Across those events, the team achieved a winning record of 26-14 in match play, winning one Tournament Finalist and two Design Awards. The Design Award is presented to the team with the most organized and professional approach to the robot design process and project management.
Dr. Todd Ensign, Program Manager of the Education Resource Center, said "As a sponsor of the Falcotronix VEX University team, the NASA IV&V Facility is incredibly excited that the students have again excelled in designing and programming competitive robots for this year’s challenge.
The VEX Robotics World Championship, May 6-14, 2025, in Dallas, Texas, is certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest robotics competition. Over 2,100 teams of students from Elementary School through College will compete across the VEX IQ, VEX V5, and VEX U Robotics Competition programs. The university division will take place May 9-11 and feature 110 teams from 21 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, and Saudi Arabia.
Holbrook said, “Each year I have been involved with the team, they have grown more advanced and competitive, and this season has been no exception. There have been challenges and tough matches throughout the season, but our students have embraced each as an opportunity to make their robots and team even better. I’m so proud of their hard work and achievement throughout the season.”
The participation of Fairmont State University’s Falcontronix team in the competition was made possible by a grant acquired in June 2024 by the Office of Sponsored Programs. This funding, provided by the NASA WV Grant Consortium, allowed students to engage in hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning experiences. Fairmont State is proud to expand STEM education through organizations like Falcontronix and is grateful to have such outstanding representatives competing on an international stage. The university wishes the team the best of luck as they continue in the competition.
