Wichita State University’s College of Engineering will host the 18th annual Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge, a robotics competition for 3rd-8th grade students from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Heskett Center gymnasium.

The competition is drawing 37 teams this year, with about 378 students registered. In addition, approximately 300 spectators are expected to attend. The event is sponsored by Wichita State Colleges of Engineering and Education, Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing companies.

Students spend months preparing for the Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge, developing their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. They also build on teamwork, sportsmanship and communication. Teams try to score the most points by running LEGO robots through obstacle courses designed by College of Engineering students.

Teams are required to demonstrate what they have learned through team presentations, team interviews and team notebooks.

The day’s events will culminate in an awards ceremony to recognize students and coaches in celebration of their success.

The awards ceremonies for beginner teams will be held at 3 p.m., with expert and intermediate teams’ ceremonies beginning at 5 p.m. in room 208, Hubbard Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge, visit www.wichita.edu/MINDSTORMS.

The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master’s and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State’s Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university’s vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.