NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Nebraska iHub staff made a spirited appearance at Northeast Community College’s “Spooktacular” Halloween event, bringing robotics to life for young participants through their interactive booth.
The iHub team set up “Robots Save Halloween,” a game featuring VEX EXP robots that introduced hundreds of students to the exciting world of robotics and technology.
One of iHub’s core missions is to create early access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields, inspiring a new generation of creators and innovators. The Spooktacular event provided an ideal platform for students, ranging from toddlers to middle-school students, to experience hands-on robotics in a fun and engaging environment.
With approximately 150 eager participants, students enjoyed the challenge of maneuvering the robots through Halloween-themed tasks, cheering one another on with every attempt.
“We love seeing the kids’ faces light up as they explore robotics,” said Erin Sorensen, director of iHub. “It’s about more than just fun, events like these allow us to introduce young minds to STEAM in ways that are memorable and impactful. We know it’s important to provide multiple touchpoints throughout these students' lives to keep that spark alive.”
Alongside the VEX EXP robots, the iHub team also showcased an FTC (First Tech Challenge) robot, allowing attendees and their families to learn about the national competitive robotics scene. This prompted an enthusiastic response from parents and children, who asked questions about the equipment, competitive opportunities, and ways to get involved.
As iHub continues to bring innovative programming to the community, staff involvement in events like Spooktacular underscores their commitment to making STEAM education accessible to youth across the region.
The iHub team looks forward to more opportunities to inspire Northeast Nebraska’s future scientists, engineers and technology leaders.
Want to learn more?
If your school or organization would like more information on robotics, ways to partner with iHub and robotics outreach this upcoming year, contact members of the iHub team, Erin Sorensen at esorensen@northeast.edu or Henry Goeden at hgoeden@northeast.edu.
Spooktacular Robot Setup
About 150 students of all ages took part in robotics fun during the Spooktacular at Northeast Community College. (Northeast Community College)
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