Reboot Robotics Monthly Newsletter – October 2026 Edition
While things may seem quiet from the outside, there has been plenty happening behind the scenes at Reboot Robotics! Our students have been working hard to build, test, and refine their competition robots as they prepare for their first tournaments of the season. The Space Taters are getting ready for their first VEX IQ competition on November 7, while the Nuclear Space Potatoes are preparing for their first VEX V5 tournament in Arkansas on November 21. Both teams have been working through challenges, learning valuable lessons, and making progress as they get ready to put their robots to the test. We are excited to see all their hard work come together!
Behind the scenes, I have also been busy leading our teams while working through the many details that go into hosting our first VEX IQ tournament and bringing Bolivar STEM Day to our community. From planning the Potato Mashup tournament to coordinating the activities and details for Bolivar STEM Day, there has been a lot happening to get everything ready for November 7!
We are incredibly excited to welcome teams, families, and community members to Southwest Baptist University for a day filled with robotics and hands-on STEM fun. Hosting our first competition and bringing a new STEM event to our community are exciting milestones for Reboot Robotics, and we can't wait to see everything come together!
With gratitude,
Nicole Neeld
Founder & CEO, Reboot Robotics
Team Highlights
With their first tournament just around the corner, the Space Taters have been busy preparing their robots for competition! One team has been refining their Hero Bot and working to improve their match scores as they continue practicing and making adjustments.
The other team has faced some challenges getting their student-designed robot to perform as they had hoped. After several weeks of working through the design, they decided to change course for the upcoming tournament. They have built a Hero Bot and made refinements to its design so they can focus on preparing for competition. The team plans to return to their original design ideas after the tournament, continuing to work toward their goals for their next competition in January!
Through both experiences, our students are learning that engineering involves testing ideas, working through challenges, and sometimes changing direction to find the best path forward. We are excited to see their hard work in action at the Potato Mashup on November 7!
The Space Taters also hope to see our sponsors and supporters at Bolivar STEM Day and the Potato Mashup tournament! Stop by their pit table to say hello, meet the team, and see what they have been working on. They would love to share their progress with you!
The Nuclear Space Potatoes have been hard at work preparing for their first VEX V5 tournament on November 21 in Arkansas! Their student-designed robot has presented some engineering challenges, as the team discovered that the arm mechanism they designed was too heavy to lift. They have been exploring new solutions and are now experimenting with scissor lifts. With only a few weeks until competition, the team is also considering focusing on their Hero Bot and making design improvements for their first event. Since they have been practicing with the Hero Bot while developing their student design, this may be a practical way to put their skills to the test while continuing to learn and improve.
Beyond their physical robot, the team has also taken on the VEX VR Skills Challenge! They have coded their virtual robot to score 30 points so far and are discovering additional programming functions that could help them increase their score. Between robot design, problem-solving, coding, and competition preparation, the Nuclear Space Potatoes have plenty to keep them busy!
As their first tournament approaches, the team is putting their engineering and programming skills to work, learning from each challenge, and figuring out how to make the most of the time they have before competition day.
Upcoming Events
Be sure to check our events page for full details. https://www.rebootrobotics.org/event-list
🤖 Bolivar STEM Day & VEX IQ Potato Mashup Tournament
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 9:00–11:30 AM
Cost: Free admission to Bolivar STEM Day
Location: Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center, SBU, Bolivar, MO
Details: Join Reboot Robotics and Southwest Baptist University for the 1st Annual Bolivar STEM Day, a family-friendly event filled with hands-on STEM activities and opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and more! Visitors can enjoy interactive experiences, meet local STEM organizations, and discover the fun of learning through hands-on activities.
Taking place alongside STEM Day is our VEX IQ Potato Mashup Tournament, where the Space Taters and visiting teams will put their robot designs and skills to the test! Come cheer on the teams, meet our students, and see what they've been building this season.
We invite our sponsors, supporters, families, and community members to stop by, explore, and celebrate STEM with us! Check out the flyer below for more information, and we hope to see you there!
🍔 Wendy's Fundraiser
Date: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month
Time: All Day
Location: Bolivar Wendy’s
Don't forget our monthly partnership with Wendy’s! Every 3rd Tuesday, a portion of sales will go toward supporting Reboot Robotics. Be sure to show the flyer when you order so your purchase counts toward our fundraiser. Stop by, grab a meal, and help us fund hands-on STEM experiences and robotics programs for local students, every bite makes a difference!
🤖 Don't Forget to Check Out Our STEM Explorers Club & Robotics Discovery Program!
Details: Interested in hands-on STEM activities or introducing your child to robotics and coding? Visit our Events page for program details and flyers!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We are incredibly grateful for Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) and their continued generosity toward Reboot Robotics! From supporting our competitive robotics teams to helping make our summer Mountain Mayhem program available at no cost to students, CMH has played an important role in creating opportunities for local youth to explore STEM.
Their support has also helped make a Technical Drawing and 3D Modeling course available to our 8th–12th grade competitive team students at a minimal cost for the semester. This gives our students an opportunity to develop valuable technical skills that complement their robotics experience and prepare them for future learning opportunities.
We truly cannot thank CMH enough for their generosity and for investing in our local youth. Community partners like CMH help us expand access to hands-on learning and provide students with opportunities to discover new interests, develop skills, and grow in confidence. Thank you, CMH, for being such an incredible supporter of Reboot Robotics!
Favorite Moments This Month
Support Reboot Robotics
There are many ways to support Reboot Robotics, from volunteering and donating to partnering with us to expand STEM opportunities for local youth!
Interested in volunteering at our upcoming VEX competitions or supporting our programs? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out at info@rebootrobotics.org or learn more about sponsorship opportunities here!
Want to help us keep growing?
That’s a Wrap!
As we head into November, we are reminded of how much it takes to keep Reboot Robotics growing, from the time and effort our students put into learning new skills to the generosity of the sponsors, volunteers, and community members who help make these opportunities possible.
Every bit of encouragement and support helps us continue creating meaningful experiences for local youth, both inside and outside the competition arena. We are thankful to have a community that believes in what we are doing and look forward to continuing this journey together!
We hope to see you at our 1st Annual Bolivar STEM Day on November 7!
As always, we’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us grow, so feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, or questions.
Until next time, keep building, exploring, and dreaming big with us!
📧 Contact us: info@rebootrobotics.org
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