CCS Lower School Robotics Caps Inaugural Season With Award Sweep and State Championship Honors

Chattanooga Christian School’s Lower School VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) teams capped a remarkable inaugural season with multiple awards, state championship recognition, and individual honors, highlighting a strong first year for the school’s expanded elementary robotics program.

After capturing multiple top awards at the Winter League Finals, CCS’s Team 6634B went on to compete at the Tennessee Elementary School IQ State Championship and Team 6634C went on to compete in the Tennessee Middle School IQ State Championship, where they represented the school with distinction against the top teams in the state.

At the Winter League Finals, CCS teams earned the following honors:

• Team 6634D – Teamwork Champion; Design Award
• Team 6634B – Skills Champion Award; Judges Award
• Team 6634C – Skills Skills 2nd Place Award

Throughout the season, CCS teams have also earned:

• Team 6634B - Excellence Award (Regional Qualifier)
• Design Award

Team 6634B earned a spot at the state championship by winning the Excellence Award—the highest honor in VEX IQ robotics—at the Dec. 13 Regional Qualifier. Team 6634C qualified for state by invitation from the REC Foundation following a significant increase in robot skills scores.

Strong Showing at the Tennessee State Championship

At the Tennessee State IQ Championship, Teams 6634B and 6634C delivered an outstanding performance in one of the most competitive elementary robotics events in the state.

6634B finished:

• 17th out of 32 teams overall
• 4th in Skills
• Recipients of the Amaze Award, which recognizes a high-performing, competitive robot that demonstrates overall quality, consistency, and robustness

6634C finished:

• 25th out of 44
• 14th in Skills

In addition, Team 6634B is now ranked 4th in the state of Tennessee in Elementary Team Skills Scores, an exceptional accomplishment in the program’s first year.

The state championship weekend also brought individual recognition for CCS leadership. Lower School Head Coach Scott Rosenow was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing his dedication and service to robotics education.

Strong Finish Caps Inaugural Elementary Robotics Season

The 2025–2026 season marked the first year of competitive VEX IQ robotics at the elementary level at Chattanooga Christian School.

Last spring, CCS announced an expansion of its robotics program to include upper elementary students. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the school launched competitive VEX IQ teams for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students, establishing a clear developmental pathway into the VEX V5 robotics program offered in middle and high school.

In its first year, the Lower School robotics program included:

• Two sixth-grade VEX IQ teams
• One fifth-grade VEX IQ team
• One combined fourth- and fifth-grade VEX IQ team

In just one season, CCS elementary robotics teams have established themselves as strong competitors at the regional level.

“We have experienced a tremendous amount of growth, as well as success, in our first year,” said Rosenow. “This success cannot be measured by awards or recognition alone. Instead, I see success in the commitment, grit, and responsibility exhibited by each team member in pursuit of what they individually and collectively consider being successful.”

Rosenow emphasized that robotics success extends beyond trophies.

“When you are willing to face a problem head on, dig deep to understand the causal factors and work diligently to uncover solutions—testing possibilities and analyzing outcomes—you have created and become part of a successful team,” he said.

Building a Robotics Pipeline at CCS

Rosenow said the VEX IQ Robotics Competition program is intentionally designed to prepare students for VEX V5 competition in middle and high school.

“The VIQRC program has prepared teams for next year's V5 program in several different ways,” Rosenow said. “Students have developed an understanding that robot design and programming is an iterative process, been introduced to the engineering design process as a key component to success in competitive robotics, developed collaborative team skills, and recognized the importance of documentation and project management.”

The VEX IQ program serves as a foundational step for students who will continue competing in VEX V5 at regional, state and national levels as they advance through Chattanooga Christian School.

Expanding STEM Opportunities at Chattanooga Christian School

The expansion of Lower School robotics reflects Chattanooga Christian School’s broader commitment to STEM education and hands-on learning.

By introducing robotics at the elementary level, CCS equips students with early experience in engineering principles, coding, problem-solving, and teamwork—skills that support academic excellence and prepare students for advanced opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

With multiple awards, state championship qualifications, and a strong developmental model established in year one, the future of Lower School robotics at Chattanooga Christian School is already gaining momentum.

“I am most proud of the team members that have remained open to guidance, new ideas, and even a bit of uncomfortableness that provokes growth and curiosity,” Rosenow said. “These attributes make remarkable robotics team members.”