On February 21st, 2026, AYLUS Roslyn Branch volunteered at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
which hosted the VEX V5 Push Back Qualifier from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
The VEX V5 Push Back Qualifier was a competition where 60 teams from Southern New York
paired up, aiming to score as many points as possible (using blocks) while defending against
the other teams. Awards were awarded based on various factors such as skills and overall
performance with 8 teams advancing to regionals.
In the beginning, volunteers helped set up the fields, guided teams to their waiting areas, and
set up stalls which vended food, snacks, and drinks. Throughout the competition we reset the
fields in a timely manner to ensure all matches would run consecutively without delay. In
addition, we reminded teams of their matches and helped queue either at their field or at the
queuing table to further ensure no delays. Volunteers also cleared fields of debris, returning
robots to competitors, and parts such as rubber bands, chains, and screws. In addition, we
helped retrieve equipment such as wrenches, screwdrivers, and pumps when necessary. When
the competition ended, volunteers helped teams clear their equipment and vacate the museum.
The VEX Competition was truly a show of teamwork, sportsmanship, and skill. Students formed
alliances with other teams, communicating their strengths and weaknesses to build a strategy.
Although some matches were plagued by technical issues, it showed how communication and
quick thinking could overcome obstacles.
Jasmine Wang (8 hours), Jasmine Lin (8 hours), Tiffany Chen (8 hours), Leah Chan (8 hours)
Reporter: Jasmine Wang
