INA, Ill. (May 19, 2026) — The Mt. Vernon Township High School (MVTHS) Roborams robotics team has officially established a new honor, the SIMA Versatility Award, to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional adaptability and initiative. The inaugural award was presented during the team’s annual awards night on Thursday, April 16.
The award is named in honor of the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA), a major sponsor of the Roborams program. During the ceremony, SIMA Coordinator Karli Campise addressed the students and families, sharing Rend Lake College's mission to provide student-centered education and highlighting the importance of industrial and technical excellence in the community.
The SIMA Versatility Award is designed to recognize the team member who consistently keeps busy, working in any capacity required to ensure the team's success. Criteria for the honor include a commitment to responding positively when complications arise and the ability to provide intuitive solutions to technical and operational challenges.
"It was an honor to present the first SIMA Versatility Award to a student who truly embodies the 'get it done' mindset," said Campise. "At SIMA, we value students who don’t just wait for instructions, but jump in wherever they are needed most. Seeing that same level of intuition and drive in the Roborams is exactly why we are so proud to invest in the next generation of problem-solvers."
The establishment of this award marks a deepening partnership between the Roborams and SIMA, as both organizations look toward a future of innovation and competition that strengthens the local workforce.
For more information about SIMA, visit rlc.edu/southern-illinois-manufacturing-academy, or email Chris Sink, Director of Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy, at sink@rlc.edu.
