So. Suburban College Hosts Southworks Robotics & Engineering Olympics

South Holland, IL — The stage is set, the robots are ready, and the energy is building! The 7th Annual Southworks Robotics & Engineering Olympics returns on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the South Suburban College Fieldhouse, main campus located at 15800 S. State St, South Holland, Illinois. This dynamic event is open to the public and free for all to attend, offering a morning of thrilling competition, hands-on STEM experiences, and family-friendly fun.

High school students from across the region will compete in five action-packed challenges—VEX Robotics, Mazerunner, Pathfinder, Sumo Survivor, and Catapult—designed to test creativity, teamwork, and real-world engineering skills. Community members, families, and friends
are encouraged to come out and support these talented young innovators as they showcase months of hard work and dedication.

This event is not only a celebration of student achievement but also a testament to the power of education-industry partnerships in shaping future opportunities. Through the Southworks Integrated Education and Workforce Program, students connect with local employers, gain exposure
to high-demand career paths, and build essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing.

The impact of this initiative has been widely recognized:

“It is absolutely critical and important that we embrace youth and all of their talent, and partnerships like this is what we do at South Suburban College.” — Lynette Stokes, Ed.D., President, South Suburban College

“This is an alternative to what I would call the traditional model. Companies invested in this actually see it, and understand that this is their future workforce.” — George Wright, CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

In addition to the robotics competitions, attendees can enjoy:

• Giveaways and interactive STEM activities such as VR headsets in action
• Live DJ and Music
• Networking with local educators, mentors, and industry leaders
• Complimentary lunch provided by Homewood Chick-fil-A
• Free T-shirts – First Come, First Serve
• 4 Raffles: Bring 3+ non-competing youth to enter a $50 gift card raffle!

The event is hosted by OAI Inc., Governors State University, the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation (CSEDC), South Suburban College, and 3 Seeds Mentoring Group. Special thanks to our sponsors—Amazon, the Chicago Workforce Partnership, and Homewood
Chick-fil-A—for their generous support in making this event possible.

Registration Information:

• Robotics teams: bit.ly/4gzWGpO
• Community audiences: bit.ly/4hBT1YO
• Volunteers: bit.ly/4ixEDSp

Media inquiries, volunteer interest, or sponsorship questions may be directed to:

Chris McArthur, Southworks Liaison via email: cmcarthur.southworks@oaiinc.org