Palm Avenue students win national VEX ‘Build’ award; city honors teams and coach

Palm Avenue Middle School’s robotics teams were honored Tuesday by the Wasco City Council after winning a national VEX Robotics “Build” award in St. Louis, a recognition the city said is given for engineering excellence and durability.

The council presented the teams — identified as groups 1920M and 1920D — with a certificate and public praise for their achievement. Council members said the Build award goes to a single team whose robot is robust, reliable and documented; the council noted only seven Build awards were handed out among roughly 600 middle-school teams at the competition.

Council member Reyna said the award felt especially meaningful because the achievement reflected community support, and Council member Martinez called the students’ use of CAD and engineering practices “amazing” for their age. The mayor added the students had put Wasco on the map.

Janeth Tapia, the county district representative for state Senator Melissa Hurtado, said the senator regretted she could not attend and asked the city to accept an offer to provide certificates to the students at a later date.

Coach Duran and parents were recognized for long hours of coaching and logistical support; council members named student team members during the presentation and encouraged residents to visit the school’s robotics room.

The council did not take any formal action beyond the recognition. Council members used the occasion to promote after-school programs and partnerships that support STEM learning in Wasco.

The city’s formal recognition and the senator’s promised certificates are the immediate next steps; the council did not identify specific grant funding or additional city resources for the program at the meeting’s close.