Team Hello Kitty Shines at World Robot Olympiad
![Hello kitty tam at the world robot olympiad in PR](https://ovca.k12.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/blog-feature-image_-806-x-504-px_ovca-template.jpg)
By Phillip Przybylo, Gifted and Talented Resource Coordinator, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA)
The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) is a prestigious global competition where students from around the world come together to test their engineering, programming and problem-solving skills through robotics. This year, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) was proud to be represented by Krista B. with Team Hello Kitty — the all-girls robotics team that journeyed to the international robotics stage. Their participation at the WRO showcased their technical talents, in addition to underscoring the importance of female representation in STEM.
An Unforgettable Experience for Team Hello Kitty
The girls of K12’s Hello Kitty robotics team had never experienced anything like WRO before. Over four days, they worked tirelessly, competing with the world’s best teams from countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Colombia and Romania. From the festive opening ceremonies to the challenging competition rounds, the team embraced every moment. Despite the 10 to 12 hours of intense work each day, they exemplified dedication, teamwork and a love for robotics.
Paving the Way for Female Engineers
Team Hello Kitty gained significant recognition throughout the event. The WRO organizers featured them on social media for their outstanding teamwork and role as female engineers — an important achievement in an industry still striving for greater gender diversity. Among the U.S. teams, especially, Hello Kitty stood out, which was seen when they were chosen to serve as the official flag bearers for Team USA during the opening ceremonies.
A Near-Medal Finish
Despite competing against teams with a half-year head start, Team Hello Kitty showed immense potential. By the final day, they were on the brink of a bronze-medal finish. During practice, their robot performed flawlessly, maneuvering through a series of complex tasks with precision. However, a small glitch in the final round caused the robot to jam just before reaching a scoring zone, narrowly missing out on a medal.
While they didn’t bring home the bronze, their performance earned the respect of both judges and competitors alike.
A Bright Future Ahead
The lessons learned from this experience are already shaping the future for Team Hello Kitty. They are determined to return next year with even greater ambition and readiness. With the support of OVCA and K12, these girls are better preparing for the next WRO — positioning themselves as the next generation of female STEM leaders.
At OVCA, we are incredibly proud of what Team Hello Kitty has accomplished. We’re excited to see where their journey will take them next!
Phillip Przybylo is a Gifted and Talented Resource Coordinator for Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, specializing in challenging enrichment instruction for all grade levels. He oversees various enrichment opportunities for the school district and the Gifted and Talented Program, including managing school teams for the Math Olympiad and Robotics League. Previously, he has served as Assistant Principal and won District Teacher of the Year as a high school teacher.