Last weekend, a small but mighty team of student engineers from North Salem High School represented Salem, Oregon on one of the biggest stages in student robotics.
North Salem’s Viking Robotics Team Valkyrie traveled more than 2,000 miles to St. Louis, Missouri, where they competed in the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship at the America’s Center Convention Complex. The international event brought together top student robotics teams from around the globe to compete, collaborate, and celebrate STEM innovation.
For Team Valkyrie, simply earning a spot at Worlds was a major accomplishment. According to Salem Reporter, this marked only the second time in North Salem High School’s history that a robotics team reached this elite level of competition.
The Road to Worlds
Team Valkyrie’s journey to St. Louis was built on months of hard work, late nights, problem-solving, and plenty of Viking Spirit.
After a challenging state tournament in early March, the team’s qualification was not immediately guaranteed. Then came the “Monday Morning Surprise” email: North Salem’s strong skills ranking at state was enough to send them to the world championship. For students who had spent hundreds of hours designing, 3D modeling, coding, rebuilding, testing, and refining their robot, the invitation was a well-earned reward.
Competing Alongside the World’s Best
At the VEX Robotics World Championship, Team Valkyrie competed alongside talented student teams from across the United States and around the world. Their division included teams from places like Puerto Rico, Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Ireland, India, Australia, Switzerland, and Vietnam.
That global setting made the experience about more than matches and rankings. North Salem students had the opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with young engineers from different countries, exchange ideas, learn from other teams, and see how far creativity and collaboration can take them.
Inside Team Valkyrie’s Robot
This year’s VEX competition challenged teams to build robots that could compete in a fast-paced arena, collect blocks, score points, and work strategically with alliance partners. The student-built robot by Team Valkyrie included programming for autonomous movement, mechanical design focused on precision and control, and strategy built around working with other teams in the VEX alliance format.
The robot may have been the centerpiece, but it also represented patience, creativity, trial and error, teamwork, and the confidence to keep improving.
A Community-Supported Achievement
Reaching the World Championship was a major financial undertaking, with an estimated cost of roughly $12,000 for registration, travel, and equipment. Because the program operated without designated competition funding, the students took the challenge into their own hands. Team Valkyrie’s fundraising efforts included door-to-door fundraising, bottle drives, and working concessions at Vikings and Salem Capitals basketball games.
The team was also supported by a dedicated coaching staff who helped guide the students through a season filled with problem-solving, perseverance, and growth.
Salem Robotics on the World Stage
North Salem was not the only Salem-Keizer school represented at the world championship. For over 15 years, West Salem High School has also sent robotics teams to the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship, continuing a strong tradition of robotics excellence in the Salem area. Together, these local students put Salem-Keizer robotics on an international stage.
Team Valkyrie’s trip to Worlds was a milestone for North Salem High School and a proud moment for Salem. Their achievement is a reminder that big things can grow from local classrooms, dedicated teachers and coaches, supportive families, and students willing to put in the work.
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