Council scoops national award for VEX Robotics Programme

An innovative education programme which saw Offaly County Council work with all primary and secondary schools across Offaly on developing their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) skills has won the overall “Collaboration and Leadership Initiative Award” at the All-Ireland Community & Council awards.

The council won the award for their VEX Robotics Programme, which was nominated in the Best Communications Initiative/Innovation section of the annual awards.

The announcement was made at the awards ceremony in Dublin's Convention Centre on Saturday night last. 273 projects were nominated initially, with 133 making the final shortlist on the night of the awards ceremony.

At the monthly meeting of Offaly County Council this afternoon (Monday), warm words of congratulations were extended to Ray Bell, Broadband Officer and STEAM innovator with Offaly County Council, and his team on the success of the initiative, with Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick stating that “technology is the future” and Offaly County Council is “leading the way” with their innovative approach to education.

Cllr John Clendennen, who attended Saturday night's awards ceremony, said it was “a massive achievement” for the local authority and the VEX Robotics team to win a national award given the calibre of the projects on the shortlist. “We have often heard about Ryan Tubridy being the Toy Man, well Ray Bell is known as the Robot Man by young people up and down the county of Offaly” he said, adding that Offaly is “the envy of every other county” for its STEAM initiatives.

Cllr Peter Ormond also extended his congratulations to the VEX Robotics team and the council staff who are involved in the STEAM educational initiative on their award and said it was “extremely well deserved.”