Winners announced in FIRST LEGO League

Dedicated students participated in the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky FIRST Lego League Robotics Regional Qualifier Competition on December 15 at Hazard Community and Technical College.

The Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky hosted 14 teams during a FIRST LEGO League Robotics Regional Qualifier Competition on December 15 at Hazard Community and Technical College. The teams competed in: Robot Game, Project Presentation about Senior Solutions, First Lego League Core Values, and Robot Design.

Teams designed, built, and programmed their robots to accomplish specific tasks during the robot game. They also had to research a problem that senior citizen s might face, develop an innovative solution to the problem, and present their solution to a panel of judges.

These activities were very educational and the excitement of the students participating spoke of the success, noted Tom Cravens, Director of the Challenger Center. The students were impressive in their abilities to create robots that could perform so well. The competition was a true test of their skills in math, science, team work, and critical thinking, he said.

Four teams will advance to the State Tournament on February 2, 2013 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. They are: The Fluffies of Farristown Middle School in the Madison County School District; LEGO Barbarians of Greenup County 4-H; LEGO Devils of Russell Middle School in the Russell Independent School District; and Johnson County Middle School of the Johnson County School District.

The awards presented were: Champions, The Fluffys of Farristown Middle School in the Madison County School District; first place, Robot Game Performance, LEGO Barbarians of Greenup County 4-H; Second Place in Robot Game Performance, Johnson County Middle School of the Johnson County School District; First Place in Robot Design, LEGO Nators, Russell Middle School in the Russell Independent School District; Second Place Robot Design, GEAR-UP Lynn Camp of the Knox County School District; First Place Core Values Presentation, Robinson Elementary School of the Perry County School District; Second Place in the Core Values Presentation, High Tech Hillbillies of Jackson County Middle School in the Jackson County School District; First Place Project Presentation, MasterMinds of Knox County Middle School in the Knox County School District; Second Place Project Presentation, LEGO Devils of Russell Middle School in the Russell Independent School District; Inspiration Award, Team Bulldog of the Hazard Middle School in the Hazard Independent School District; Teamwork Award, LEGO Raiders, Boy Scout Troop No. 90 in Hazard; Rising Star Award, Viper Robotics of Viper Elementary School in the Perry County School District; Innovation Award, Robot Rangers of Warfield Middle School in the Martin County School District; Team Spirit Award, Patriots of Estill County Middle School in the Estill County School District.