We’ve heard the question — can we come watch the team at VEX Worlds?
Plano West Wolf Battalion VEX Robotics Team to Compete at World Championship
The Plano West Wolf Battalion VEX Robotics Team is reaching new heights this spring as they head to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, May 8th. After a season filled with growth, innovation, and fierce competition, the team earned their spot among the world’s best and will now represent our school and community on the global stage.
The World Championship is no small event — it brings together more than 14,000 teams from 53 countries, competing in over 1,300 tournaments across local, regional, and national levels. VEX Robotics competitions are known for their intensity and complexity, and this season’s game, “High Stakes,” is no exception.
The Game: High Stakes
Played on a 12’ x 12’ square field, VEX V5 Robotics Competition: High Stakes pits two alliances of two teams each in a battle of strategy and skill. Teams score points by placing Rings on Stakes, manipulating Mobile Goals, and climbing a central Ladder before time runs out. Matches begin with a 15-second Autonomous Period and end with a 1 minute and 45 second Driver Controlled Period. Precision, timing, and smart strategy are all critical to victory.
There are 48 Rings, 9 Stakes, and a center Ladder on the field. The higher a robot climbs the Ladder, the more points it scores. Bonus points are also awarded to alliances that dominate during the autonomous period and complete special in-game tasks.
Meet the Team
The Wolf Battalion team brings together a talented group of cadets and students from Plano West and Jasper High School, each playing a vital role:
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Charles Gavner – Driver
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Noah Jones – Pit Crew / Builder
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William Morgan – Pit Crew / Builder
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Kiersten Bell – Pit Crew / Engineering Book
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Hayden McIntosh (Jasper H.S.) – Engineer Book
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Ethan Coleman (Jasper H.S.) – Competition Field Observer
Powered by Community Support
Much of the team's progress is thanks to the support of the Plano West community. The success of the fall fundraiser and private donors provided the team with critical new equipment, allowing them to compete with confidence and innovation throughout the season. That investment paid off—big time.
Now, the Wolf Battalion Robotics Team is ready to take everything they've learned to the global arena in Dallas. We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and excited to see them represent Plano West on one of the biggest stages in student robotics.
Let’s wish them the best as they take on the world!
Plano West Drone Team Earns Honors in Inaugural Competitive Season
The Plano West AR-based STEM Drone Team just wrapped up a breakthrough debut season—bringing home two major awards and setting a strong foundation for future success in competitive drone flight.
In February, the team earned the Judges Award at the East Plano Airborne Rookie Rumble – Aerial Drone Competition, an honor recognizing teams that demonstrate standout engineering practice, teamwork, and promise. Then in March, they competed in Mission 2025: Gravity – Mesquite ISD’s First Aerial Drone Competition, where they received the Airmanship Award for safe, professional, and skilled drone operation.
As a newer program, the team made a strong impression with their professionalism, teamwork, and technical progress throughout the season. Their work ethic and focus helped them quickly rise to become a respected competitor in the regional drone scene.
Unlike the Robotics Team—who build and program robots from the ground up—the Drone Team focuses on tuning and piloting existing aerial drones, mastering control systems and refining flight skills through hands-on practice. Each event challenged them to fly with precision, strategy, and calm under pressure—all skills they executed with confidence.
Beyond competition, these students are developing real-world skills that can lead directly into the modern job market. From aeronautics and robotics to engineering, data analysis, and unmanned aircraft systems, the knowledge and experience gained through this program prepare cadets for opportunities in STEM fields that are growing rapidly across industries like logistics, public safety, environmental science, and aerospace.
We’re incredibly proud of the entire team for setting such a high standard in their first year. With two major awards already earned, the future of drone competition—and drone careers—at Plano West looks sky-high.
Curious about what the Aerial Drone Team does and how it might benefit you down the road? Check out this year's promotional video. We encourage you to plug your cadets into this thriving program next year!
Wolf Battalion Supports the North Texas Angels Pageant
We are excited to remind everyone that the North Texas Angels Pageant is just around the corner on March 23rd, and this will be the Wolf Battalion's Service Learning Project for the semester. The theme for this year is "Going for the Gold", and it’s a perfect opportunity for our cadets to support and celebrate these amazing individuals!
Event Details:
- Date: March 23rd
- Time: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM (Cadets should plan to be there for the full day, and should wear class A uniforms)
- Location: 100 N Charles St, Lewisville, TX
- Pageant Starts at 10:00 AM
This year’s theme celebrates the strength, courage, and resilience of every participant. As part of the Service Learning Project, we ask all cadets to be present to show their support for these remarkable angels. Parents are welcome to attend and cheer on the participants! Your presence will make the day even more meaningful for everyone involved.
We are so proud of the Wolf Battalion for being part of such a special and impactful event, and we thank you for your continued support!
See you there! 
Attention JROTC Seniors: Scholarship Applications Now Open!
We are excited to announce that scholarship applications for JROTC seniors are now officially open! This scholarship is proudly presented by the Patriot Booster Club and is open to members.
The Scholarship Committee will review all applications and select recipients based on the established criteria.
To apply, please download and print the scholarship application.
Deadline: April 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM CST
Eligibility: Open to all JROTC seniors who are members of the Patriot Booster Club.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to further your academic journey. Be sure to submit your application on time!
For any questions or assistance, please contact Brandi Stevens at pbotreas@gmail.com.
Best of luck, and we look forward to reviewing your applications!
The 26th Annual Winter Military Ball was a blast! We couldn’t have done it without our wonderful cadets, our amazing sponsors and of course all of you. Til next time…!! #wherelegendsaremade
The Plano West Senior High School JROTC Wolfpack Battalion is excited to invite you to our Winter Military Ball, a special event that celebrates our cadets and their commitment to service. This year’s ball will take place on February 15, 2025, at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Lewisville, Texas. The theme for the evening, “Answering the Call to Serve,” highlights the dedication and leadership that our JROTC cadets demonstrate throughout the year.
A Night of Celebration
The Winter Military Ball is truly the highlight of the year for our cadets. It’s a chance to come together with family, friends, and the community to honor the accomplishments of these exceptional students. With music, dancing, and a formal or semi-formal dress code, this is an unforgettable evening designed to celebrate the achievements and values that define our Wolfpack Battalion.
Welcoming All Family and Friends
This event isn’t just for cadets—family members and friends are encouraged to join us for a memorable night of celebration. Whether you’re a proud parent, a close friend, or a supporter of the JROTC program, the Winter Military Ball offers a unique opportunity to stand with the cadets and celebrate their hard work, leadership, and commitment to service.
Ticket Information
Tickets are available for $40 per person. While we aim to make this event accessible to as many as possible, purchasing your tickets in advance helps with our planning and ensures we’re ready for a fantastic evening. This is a night that promises to be filled with pride, camaraderie, and celebration of the values that shape our future leaders.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We also welcome local businesses and community members to support the Winter Military Ball through sponsorship opportunities. Your support helps make this event even more special for our cadets and contributes to the ongoing success of the JROTC program
Join Us for an Unforgettable Evening!
The Winter Military Ball is more than just a dance—it’s a celebration of everything our cadets stand for: discipline, service, and leadership. We hope you’ll join us for an evening to remember as we honor the accomplishments of our Wolfpack Battalion and look ahead to the bright futures our cadets are creating.
Click the following for ticket purchases or sponsorship inquiries.
We can’t wait to see you there and celebrate this amazing night with our cadets!
South Grand Prairie Shootout!
Click the images to see videos of our PT and Color Guard teams in action this past weekend! Join our Facebook page to see more like it!
Congratulations Robotics Team: New Vex Super Kit Needed
Why JROTC?
We all know that every student can benefit from membership in JROTC - whether it's through improving their physical fitness, elevating their grades, giving back, building character, learning time management and leadership skills, or preparing for college - so that's why we want your help in getting the word out! To your friends, your social networks, you get the idea. It's an opportunity like no other, and we want more people to know!
Contrary to popular opinion, JROTC is NOT about going in the military; in fact, only a small percentage of students who participate even choose the military path (roughly 5% nationwide), however, what it does do is incorporate elements of military culture, such as uniforms, drills, and rank structure, to instill discipline, responsibility, and leadership skills that are valuable to all!
All that said: cadets who WANT to enlist post-high school receive a few significant advantages, including higher enlistment rank/pay grade opportunities and access to scholarships in senior ROTC programs not available to non-cadets.
So whether we have already met your cadet because they are returning for another year, or your son or daughter is kicking the tires about whether they want to join, we assure you this is a team unlike any other ... who welcomes all! We have a lot of exciting things planned for this year and can't wait to see you all again!
Behind the Scenes at Our 2024 Military Ball!
We've all seen our cadets develop a sense of pride, camaraderie and confidence in themselves as a result of their affiliation with Plano West JROTC. And while the uniform plays a key part in that -- by showcasing all of their achievements -- they can't wear their uniform every day.
That's where Wolf Battalion SWAG comes in!
It's the perfect choice for spirit days, football games ... pretty much ANY day they want to show their Wolf Battalion pride! We have a limited assortment of shirts and hoodies right now, with more on the way soon, so be sure and check it out. It's a great way for you to show your pride in them, too!
Plano West Senior High
5601 West Parker Road
Plano, TX 75093
(469) 752-9600
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Patriot Booster Club
