CNSE Partners with STEAMwhiz on Robotics Competition for K-8 Students
By Andrew McMains
ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 11, 2025) — The College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) at the University at Albany is partnering with STEAMwhiz to present the Capital Region’s first national robotics competition for elementary and middle school students.
The Capital Region Classic will take place Jan. 17 at the Albany Capital Center. Thirty teams from three states will play a Mix & Match game in which robotic forklifts stack and move plastic pieces on a 6-by-8-foot board. At the end of the day, judges will bestow five awards.
The VEX IQ Robotics competition is designed to spark interest in STEM, as demand grows globally for scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Cultivating engineers is central to the mission of CNSE, which offers degrees in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, environmental and sustainable engineering, nanoscale science and nanoscale engineering.
“Events like the Capital Region Classic kindle the minds of young students and reward them for anticipating and solving problems. It helps them develop an engineering mindset,” said CNSE Dean Michele Grimm. “That’s why we jumped at the chance to be the university partner.”
“This partnership is about access,” added STEAMwhiz Co-Founder Javier F. Pulecio, who holds a PhD in engineering science. “We know that the workforce of tomorrow — specifically in sectors like nanotechnology and engineering — requires fluency in AI and advanced STEM concepts earlier than ever before. By partnering with us, CNSE is directly supporting early access to these critical skills.”
Participants in the first Capital Region Classic include students from schools in Albany, Colonie, Delmar, Niskayuna and Watervliet. Others will come from outside New York, including Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Team registration is now open. More information can be found on the Capital Region Classic webpage.
About CNSE
The College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering at UAlbany unleashes greatness in engineering through four departments: Nanoscale Science & Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering and Environmental & Sustainable Engineering. Students apply the core skills they learn in the classroom to internships and research, often with industry partners, including those at the Albany NanoTech Complex, home of the Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering.
About STEAMwhiz
STEAMwhiz is a premier STEM education provider founded in the Capital Region, focused on early development (K-8) and dedicated to preparing the future workforce through AI & Applied STEM readiness. By bridging the gap between standard curriculum and modern industry needs, STEAMwhiz uses project-based learning and advanced educational technology to build the “grit,” computational thinking and problem-solving skills students need to thrive in the 21st-century economy. Learn more at steamwhiz.com.