Ola High School’s Robotics Team’s Exceptional Embodiment of Opportunities, Access, and Outcomes

 

 

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Across Henry County Schools, opportunities exist for every student to pursue bold dreams, discover new possibilities, and establish a firm foundation for college, career, and life goals.

When Ola High School’s (OHS) inaugural robotics team qualified for the 2012 VEX Robotics World Championship in California, then-Kindergartner Carson Schmitt got the opportunity to travel with the group.

Schmitt’s mother, Dr. Christie Schmitt, an OHS engineering teacher and Technology Student Association (TSA) adviser, was integral to the establishment and growth of OHS robotics and also served as the team’s adviser.

During the 2012 competition, VEX Robotics debuted VEX IQ for elementary and middle schools, igniting a fire within the Kindergartener who soon began advocating for a VEX IQ team. By the second grade, the determined student presented a formal appeal to his principal, paving the way for the 2014 launch of Ola Elementary School’s (OES) first robotics team.

Shaping a Dynasty

Dr. Schmitt’s extensive qualifications, teaching experience, and impressive track record of accomplishments in engineering and technology helped advance robotics instruction across the Ola Cluster.

The Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation considers Dr. Schmitt and her husband, who similarly champions robotics education in a neighboring school district, “the bedrock of VEX Robotics in Georgia.”

Dr. Schmitt’s well-deserved honors include the 2024 VEX Robotics Inspirational Coach Award for advancing STEM and robotics education in the Southeast United States, induction into the REC Foundation STEM Hall of Fame, and International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Distinguished Technology Educator recognition.

Under her guidance, the new OES VEX IQ team qualified for its first VEX IQ World Championship competition just one year after it was established. Team 5203G continued to qualify each year in elementary and middle school, earning numerous accolades and inspiring the launch of other robotics clubs.

 

 

Ola Middle School VEX IQ teams progressed to the high school level, where Carson Schmitt was among those comprising VEX V5 Team 5203G (Gremlin). The high school team also qualified for VEX World Championships, in addition to winning an impressive array of individual and team awards against top teams in regional, national, and global competitions.

 

 

Learning engineering and technology concepts as early as elementary school equipped the students with key competencies to enhance various models of its Gremlin robot, garnering praise from robotics enthusiasts and industry experts for its design and functionality.

Team 5203G quickly gained a reputation as an elite team, amassing a loyal and engaged following and worldwide recognition for its skills, innovation, and sportsmanship.

Ending on a High Note

Last summer, the team won its division and finished in the top 10 at the 2024 VEX World Championship and also won the competition’s Amaze Award.

During the 2024-2025 school year alone, Team 5203G won several nationwide VEX Signature competitions, including the Mall of America Amaze and Haunted Innovate events. Accolades at the local level included Tournament Champion, Robot Skills Champion, and Excellence Award winner at the 2024 Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference.

In February, the team earned the title of Georgia VEX V5 Robotics Competition High School State Tournament Champion and secured the tournament’s Excellence Award for the second consecutive year. VEX presents the coveted award, the highest at the state level, to a well-rounded VEX robotics team that exemplifies a high-quality competitive robotics program.

The accomplishments qualified the team for its fourth consecutive appearance at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Texas in May.

In Dallas, Team 5203G accomplished what Dr. Schmitt described as “beyond imaginable,” outperforming more than 800 teams from around the world to earn the 2025 VEX World Championship Excellence Award. The competition’s highest honor recognizes long-standing excellence and inspirational contributions to the VEX community.

 

 

That victory served as a storybook ending for the six team members, who all graduated from OHS in May. Their outstanding all-around performance, which includes continued demonstration of excellence considering the demands of their senior year, highlights their exemplary work ethic. Team members not only excelled in robotics but also academically, setting the stage for success beyond HCS:

• Jayla Brown plans to study automotive systems technology at Wake Technical Community College.
• Sebastian Cedeno plans to study mechanical engineering at Kennesaw State University.
• Conner Middlebrooks plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Makenzie Middlebrooks plans to study graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
• Dustin Pouliot plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming.
• Carson Schmitt plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, receiving, among several scholarships, a “full ride” Stamps President’s Scholar, Georgia Tech’s premier and most prestigious scholarship, awarded to the top 50 incoming first-year students.

 

 

Carson Schmitt and Conner Middlebrooks served as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the OHS Class of 2025.

Legacy Builders

Carson Schmitt’s seemingly destined entry into the competitive robotics arena led to 10 World Championship appearances and 95 accolades, including 68 local, 13 state, nine Signature, and five VEX Worlds awards for Team 5203G throughout elementary, middle, and high school.

Preparing for multiple robotics competitions throughout the school year requires significant time investment. Yet, Team 5203G balanced these demands along with various academic and extracurricular obligations that included mentoring HCS elementary school teams and producing video tutorials and lesson plans to help coaches establish elementary school robotics teams.

 

 

“Whether initiating or facilitating innovative learning programs, Henry County Schools is purposefully enabling bright futures,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III.  “Ola Elementary School’s inaugural robotics team is a powerful example of the district’s regard for the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of students, teachers, families, and the community, and also highlights the difference one student and one teacher can make. We are grateful to ALPLA McDonough and other sponsors who have provided funding and other support that have been instrumental to the team’s success.”

The Future of STEM in HCS

Team 5203G’s trajectory underscores the Board of Education’s vision for STEM education expressed in its 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan, which reflects the community’s desire for STEM opportunities for HCS students.

The district’s “STEM for all” approach further fuels strategic investments, ensuring students at every level have access to STEM-related teaching and resources.

Building on Team 5203G’s momentum, earlier this year, HCS hosted its first official VEX IQ Robotics competition sponsored by the board and a grant from ALPLA. Additional partnerships with local STEM industry experts, acquisition of high-tech STEM equipment, and a focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified personnel are among the strategies signaling the board’s commitment to building a robust STEM program districtwide.

With the board prioritizing STEM for all, a district leader named among the nation’s Top 10 STEM Directors in Education, and educators like Dr. Schmitt committed to STEM excellence, HCS is building a bright future for students interested in STEM programming.

Moving forward, HCS students, beginning in August 2027, will have the opportunity to attend Henry County STEM High School, the district’s first state-of-the-art STEM specialty school, on which the district broke ground this past April.

As one of the early success stories showcasing the district’s aspirations to be a leader in STEM education, Team 5203G underscores HCS’ mission to empower students with exceptional opportunities and access, fully preparing them for college, career, and life.