Lexington, SC 11/03/2022: The Lexington County School District One Educational Foundation recently awarded $10,000 in
Michelin VEX Robotics Grants to Lexington District One middle and high school VEX Robotics team. These grants
are a result of a $30,000 commitment from Michelin North America, Inc., to support robotics and computer science
education in the district.
These Educational Foundation grant funds can be used for needed robotics team expenses, which can be quite
costly, such as purchasing one or more robotics kits, tools and equipment, as well as to cover team registration fees
and other unmet expenses incurred as a result of the teams participating in local and state competitions.
Foundation Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn shared, “Computer science learning opportunities
provided by participation on a school VEX Robotics team teach our students important, marketable skills that help
prepare them for a variety of industries. Technology-related fields are the future and Michelin executives recognize
and support such valuable experiences for our Lexington District One students.”
Students who choose to become involved in a school robotics team learn skills in building, design, engineering,
coding, computational thinking, range of motion, simple machinery, collaboration, teamwork, marketing, public
speaking and more. All of these experiences help develop a variety of very valuable skills in our students, which are
desirable to future employers.
Each year a school’s VEX robotics team members must work together to design, construct and program a robot
based on the competition year’s given parameters. In addition, students must learn to maneuver it using a remote
control; conduct product trials; and correct performance issues either before or during competitions. Participation
in robotics competitions gives Lexington District One students the opportunity to see how other teams addressed
the challenges, to meet students from other communities, and to learn from their experiences.
Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Michelin VEX Robotics Grant teams:
• Beechwood Middle School – Team Coaches Brittany Feaster and Garrick Ball; Principal Gloria Jenkinson
• Lakeside Middle School – Team Coaches Ben Godfrey and Don Mellen (volunteer); Principal Casey Calhoun
• Pelion Middle School - Team Coach John Leneschmidt; Principal Jessica Keisler
• Pleasant Hill Middle School – Team Coach Darren Sigmon; Principal Julie Painter
• White Knoll Middle School - Team Coach Alan Lominick; Principal Donald Hardie
• Lexington Technology Center/Lexington High School – Team Coaches Melissa Boehler and Daniel
Cummins; LTC Director Bryce Myers; LHS Principal Ryan Pool
• River Bluff High School- Team Coaches Horst Daichendt, Sarah Tooley, Don Mellen (volunteer) and Ana
Daichendt; Principal Jacob Smith
• White Knoll High School - Team Coaches Cory Summerall and Darren Murray; Principal Nicholas Pearson
Based on the success of the district’s many VEX Robotics Teams last school year, with the three high school teams
making it to the VEX Worlds Competition last May, hopes are high for continued success in this 2022-23 school
year. The Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff are extremely grateful for companies like Michelin
that invest in Lexington District One students and help to provide such wonderful, real-world experiences via our
school VEX robotics teams.
Pictured: Photos of each school’s VEX Robotics Team.
