READY TO COMPETE: Paul Dahman, above left, Garret Taylor and Bella Gullia, all eighth-graders at Canfield Village Middle School, have fun with their robots during the school's Robotics Derby.

READY TO COMPETE: Paul Dahman, above left, Garret Taylor and Bella Gullia, all eighth-graders at Canfield Village Middle School, have fun with their robots during the school's Robotics Derby. Thursday's event was the year-end finale for the Robotics Program, which is an after-school activity. At left, C.J. Artman, also an eighth-grader, assembles his robot. The derby helps pupils learn about engineering and technology, said David Izzo, who runs the school's robotics program.