Second annual FIRST Lego League competition draws 15 teams to East Syracuse

Second annual FIRST Lego League competition draws 15 teams to East Syracuse 

Student engineers who can design, build and code Lego robots put their skills to the test recently during the second annual FIRST Lego League competition held Jan. 21 at Pine Grove Middle School in the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District. The event was organized through the Model Schools team at OCM BOCES, which supports districts in their use of instructional technology.

Five teams out 15 qualified for the regional competition Feb. 18 in Buffalo. They include:
 

• People of the Peeps - Cazenovia Middle School

  

• The Cheetahbots - East Syracuse Elementary School 
• Minoa Dragon Masters - Minoa Elementary School
• RoboHornets - Wellwood Middle School in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
• Gene Worx Oughtamation - Rome

The FIRST Lego Lego event at Pine Grove was dubbed “Super Powered.” It challenged students to design, build and code a robot that can improve how renewable energy is stored and distributed within the community.

Students had to build their robots in advance of the competition. Each robot had to complete a series of missions at the event, called "energy journeys." The robot earns points based on how it collects and delivers energy to and from various sources during each journey. Robots have to push, pull and lift, or perform a combination of these movements. Judges evaluate the robots and the research behind each project. Each team also spends time explaining their project during a presentation portion of the event.

After a full day of competition, special awards were given in the following categories:

• Coach/Mentor Award - Christy Fahey from the Woodland Electric Spartans
• Breakthrough Award - Robot Rumblers from Pine Grove Middle School
• Rising All-Star Award - B-Bots from Fremont Elementary School
• Motivate Award - People of the Peeps from Cazenovia Middle School
• Engineering Excellence Award - RoboHornets from Wellwood Middle School
• Core Values Award - Cheetahbots from East Syracuse Elementary School
• Robot Design Award - Gene Worx Oughtamation from Rome area
• Innovative Project Award - Electric Spartans from Woodland Elementary School
• Champions Award - Minoa Dragon Masters

Congratulations to all of our competitors for their outstanding performances!

We would also like to thank all of the advisors, judges, volunteers, Model Schools team members, the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District, and everyone who contributed to this event to help make it a success.

Here are just a few images from the competition: