Lakeland Preparatory School made history this past weekend on Saturday, January 17, 2026, as it hosted its first-ever VEX IQ Robotics Competition, welcoming middle school robotics teams from across the Tennessee region for a full day of STEM-focused challenges and collaboration.
The milestone event, held from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, brought together dozens of young competitors who showcased their engineering, programming, and teamwork skills in a game-based robotics challenge. Students were tasked with designing, building, and operating robots capable of working alongside other teams in fast-paced, strategic matches.
More than just a technical contest, the VEX IQ Competition emphasized leadership, communication, and problem-solving—skills that students will carry far beyond the arena.
“VEX Robotics competitions give students the opportunity to apply the STEM concepts that they learn in the classroom through authentic hands-on challenges,” said Quanta Hess, who has served as the robotics coach for the last four years and has taught at LPS since it opened in 2017. “I am so excited to see my students continue to build confidence as they compete on their own campus. It gives us the opportunity to take pride in representing our school and the responsibility of being both competitors and first-time hosts.”
The regional qualifier also served as an important step toward the Tennessee State Championship, scheduled for February 27–28, 2026, in Hendersonville. Lakeland Preparatory School’s robotics program has continued to grow in reputation; two LPS VEX IQ teams qualified for state last year, and one team has already secured a spot for the 2026 championship.
Hosting the event placed LPS at the center of Tennessee’s expanding youth robotics landscape. The VEX IQ Competition is part of the world’s largest robotics program, with tournaments held year-round at regional, state, and national levels before culminating each spring at the VEX Robotics World Championship.
With its successful debut as a host site, Lakeland Preparatory School has positioned itself as a leader in STEM education and competitive robotics—a momentum the school plans to continue building in the years ahead.
