Area kids compete in LEGO Robotics event at CCU

Some 170 elementary and middle school students were having a blast last month at the First LEGO Qualifying Event in Kimbel Arena at Coastal Carolina University.

With LEGO robots they made themselves in hand, the teams of area kids competed throughout the day, putting their robots through a specially designed course in which the machines had to complete prescribed tasks.

First place went to the Bay Bots of Ocean Bay Elementary. Second place was awarded to the Mega Minibots of Waccamaw Intermediate School. The winners will go on to compete in the statewide competition, held at White Knoll High School in Lexington, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Four other teams were also invited to compete in the statewide competition. They include the Genius Gemstones from the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina and three teams from Cario Middle School, located in Mount Pleasant: the Purple Programming Princesses, the Titanium Titanics and the Trollbots. Teams were judged in three areas: LEGO robot design and challenge competition, a research project on an original idea for helping senior citizens and a teamwork activity.

In all, 80 teams will test their robotic-making skills at the state competition. The field was narrowed through 15 regional qualifying events held throughout the state.

According to Louis Rubbo, assistant professor of  physics,  who coordinated the competition, "The FIRST LEGO League fills a much needed hole in inspiring elementary and middle school students to get them involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities outside of the classroom. Although the robotics are the highlight of the competition, the research project and core values portions of the competition foster connections to the community and team work skills."