The VEX Robotic Arm by HEXBUG received the award for Educational Toy of the Year at the Toy Industry Association's 16th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, also known as the "Oscars" of the toy industry. This distinguished honor is granted annually to a toy that best enables learning through play. Receiving the 2016 Educational TOTY further cements HEXBUG and VEX Robotics as continued world leaders in innovative toys and robotics.

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2016 — (PRNewswire) — INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR 2016 -- The VEX Robotic Arm by HEXBUG received the award for Educational Toy of the Year at the Toy Industry Association's 16th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, also known as the "Oscars" of the toy industry. This distinguished honor is granted annually to a toy that best enables learning through play. Receiving the 2016 Educational TOTY further cements HEXBUG and VEX Robotics as continued world leaders in innovative toys and robotics.

VEX Robotic Arm by HEXBUG
This construction kit features over 350 easy to assemble snap-together pieces. Once connected, the kit results in a towering yellow arm with a 360 degree rotational crane and articulated claw. As they navigate the assembly process, users are exposed to real-world engineering theories, like gearing or linkages, which are presented in an accessible and gratifying way. Designed to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts, this exposure at an early age can often be the catalyst needed to inspire future engineering exploration.

"Over the past nine years of attending the New York Toy Fair, our company has developed from a few small products to a global brand spanning multiple genres of play," said Tony Norman, Co-Founder and CEO of Innovation First. "The world currently faces an unprecedented need for new STEM problem solving leaders - fulfilling this need is the core mission of VEX Robotics. By allowing students to bring the magic of VEX Robotics into their daily play, we now have a unique opportunity to reach a much broader audience than ever before. We are thrilled to see VEX's positive reception in the toy space and honored to receive this prestigious award."

About VEX Robotics and HEXBUG:

VEX Robotics is a leading provider of educational and competitive robotics products to schools, universities and robotics teams around the world. Their VEX IQ and VEX EDR product lines span elementary, middle, and high schools with accessible, scalable, and affordable robotics solutions. HEXBUG is a brand and product line designed as a way to give children a positive experience with robotics at a young age. People are drawn to the HEXBUG brand for the products' fascinating behavior, intelligent bug-like attributes and eye-catching packaging. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Innovation First International.