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Paducah Today
By the People, for the People
West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament Returns for 11th Year
Challenger Learning Center and WKCTC to host annual robotics competition for student teams
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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The Challenger Learning Center at Paducah, in partnership with West Kentucky Community & Technical College, will host the 11th annual West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The competition will feature 28 student teams from across the region vying for state qualifier positions, with winners advancing to the state event in April.
Why it matters
The RCX tournament provides an opportunity for students to develop valuable skills in computer programming, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making through the design and testing of LEGO robots. The event also serves as a qualifier for the state-level competition, allowing students to showcase their talents and potentially advance to a higher level of competition.
The details
During the tournament, student teams program LEGO robots to complete missions on a 4-by-8-foot competition mat. Each team has three attempts to score as many points as possible within a three-minute run, with the highest score from any run determining the winners at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In preparation for the tournament, students spend the fall reviewing rules, brainstorming, designing, and testing their robots and attachments.
- The 11th annual West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
- The tournament schedule includes registration from 7:30-8:15 a.m., an opening ceremony from 8:15-8:45 a.m., the tournament from 8:55-11:50 a.m., and a closing ceremony from 12:10-12:30 p.m.
The players
Challenger Learning Center at Paducah
A science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education center that partners with West Kentucky Community & Technical College to host the annual RCX regional tournament.
West Kentucky Community & Technical College
A community college that collaborates with the Challenger Learning Center to host the annual West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament.
What they’re saying
“The RCX tournament provides an excellent opportunity for students to develop valuable skills in computer programming, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making.”
— Mellisa Duncan, Contact for the event (marshallcountydaily.com)
What’s next
The winners of the West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament will advance to the state event in April at Lexington's Rupp Arena as part of the Kentucky Department of Education's Student Technology Leadership Program.
The takeaway
The annual West Kentucky RCX Regional Tournament provides a platform for students to showcase their STEM skills and potentially progress to higher levels of competition, fostering the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and technical abilities that are essential for future success.
