Shawsheen Tech’s Robo Raiders Earn Judges Award at VEX State Championship

Shawsheen’s Team D proudly stands with their robot and the Judges’ Award trophy. Team members earning the award include Nick DiPietropolo, Aidan Shanahan, and Jacob Halas (not pictured). Also pictured are Brendan Ferrone and Alyvia Rowsky from Shawsheen’s Team B.

BILLERICA, MA – Shawsheen Valley Technical High School proudly sent teams from its robotics club to compete at the Massachusetts VEX V5 High School State Championship on February 22nd and 23rd at Walsh Middle School in Framingham, MA. Among them, Team D—self-named the “Robo Raiders”—stood out for their resilience, skill, and teamwork, earning the prestigious Judges Award, an honor a Shawsheen team has not received in a decade.

The Robo Raiders—a trio of juniors, Nicholas DiPietropolo, Jacob Halas, and Aidan Shanahan—demonstrated remarkable determination throughout the competition. While many teams had been preparing since summer, Shawsheen’s club began in late September, making their performance all the more impressive. Despite the shorter preparation time, they secured six wins and four losses, proving they could compete with top-tier opponents. Their success was a testament to their engineering ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and the strong technical foundation they developed at Shawsheen.

Unlike most VEX high school teams, which typically consist of four members handling distinct roles, the Robo Raiders functioned as a three-person team, dividing responsibilities among themselves: Nick DiPietropolo served as builder and programmer, Aidan Shanahan took on the roles of driver and notebook keeper, and Jacob Halas contributed as a co-builder alongside Nick.

Despite facing significant hurdles, including limited development time and stiff competition from veteran teams, they persevered—continuously refining their strategies throughout the season. Their robot featured a mechanum drive, allowing it to strafe left and right without turning—an advanced design element that set them apart from other competitors.

Coach Collin Powers, a 2020 alumnus of Shawsheen’s Engineering program, likened the team’s competition journey to climbing a mountain. “D Team had the chance to upgrade their robot before the state competition, allowing them to stand toe-to-toe with the best, but time constraints prevented them from fully implementing changes,” Powers explained. “Despite that, they took on every challenge head-on, constantly upgrading between matches and causing some of the biggest upsets I’ve seen at States during my tenure.”

One of their most notable moments was a near-upset against the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams, where they lost by just two points—a testament to Aidan’s driving skills and the team’s strategic play. Their perseverance and teamwork ultimately earned them the Judges Award, which recognizes teams that display special attributes such as exemplary effort, perseverance, teamwork, and professionalism.

The team credits their success to their coach and the hands-on experience gained through Shawsheen’s technical education program. “Students involved in VEX robotics teams not only deepen their understanding of concepts across the STEM domains—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” said Vocational Director David Norkiewicz, “but also engage in essential skills through collaboration with various groups during competitions. They develop critical engineering competencies such as computational thinking and troubleshooting, which enable them to identify and solve problems effectively.” Coach Powers reinforced this, emphasizing that their ability to adapt and troubleshoot under pressure stems directly from their CTE background.

As the season concludes, the Robo Raiders reflect on their experience with immense pride. Though they must now dismantle their robot, the team is already looking ahead to the next season, eager to apply everything they’ve learned.

With a strong technical foundation and valuable competition experience, Shawsheen’s Robo Raiders are determined to return next year stronger than ever, with their sights set on competing on the world stage.