University of Advancing Technology's Official Technology Blog

University of Advancing Technology students compete at VEX U competition.

Tussle for the Southwest

More than 200 teams compete annually in the VEX U Robotics Competition (VURC), a premier event designed to prepare students for future careers as innovators. These competitions take place year-round at the regional, state, and national levels, showcasing cutting-edge robotics engineering and programming skills.

This past weekend, the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) proudly competed at Desert Ridge High School in the 2025 Tussle for the Southwest alongside other top colleges and universities in the state. What made UAT's participation particularly special was that their team consisted entirely of rookie competitors. Led by team leads Marcus Frazier, Levi Terry, and Alexa Tuchtenhagen, the team also included Dylan Maxwell, AJ Osorio, Connor Kovacs, Antonio Martinez, Terrance Harris, and Alexander Brittain. UAT Robotics Professor, Matthew Prater served as coach and Career Services Advisor, Jake Henningsen, was on hand for support as well.

Despite facing experienced competitors who had been working on their robots since September, UAT’s team impressed the judges with their ability to overcome adversity. In just five weeks, they designed and built both a ring-collecting and a climbing robot, prepared all necessary documentation, coded their systems, and mastered the game’s intricacies—all at an astonishingly fast pace.

Judges Award Winners: Recognizing Resilience and Innovation

While they did not take home the championship, their incredible efforts did not go unnoticed. The team was honored with the Judges Award, which is given to teams deserving of special recognition. This award acknowledges teams that demonstrate exemplary effort, perseverance, and notable accomplishments that may not fall under existing award categories but still merit distinction.

Gearing Up for the Future

With a full season of experience now under their belt, this all-rookie team is eager to return next year with a deeper understanding of the robotics competition and an even stronger presence. Beyond competing, they also aspire to give back to the community by volunteering at and hosting middle school and high school tournaments, inspiring the next generation of robotics enthusiasts. UAT’s performance at VEX U proves that passion, dedication, and resilience can lead to remarkable achievements. We can't wait to see what they accomplish next!

Are you ready to join the VEX U team and earn a degree in Robotics? Discover UAT’s Robotics degree program, designed to equip students with the skills to tackle today’s most pressing tech challenges.

Learn more about UAT’s Robotics and Embedded Systems degree.