Local robotics teams place at regional event
Jan 17, 2013 | 313 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
GCMS Grand Roboteers team members (from left) Grace Osusky, Cameron Wakefield, Mackay Wakefield and Ryan Reed compete at the Southeastern Regional Robotic Qualifier in Price on Jan. 5. The team, part of the BEACON after-school program, took fourth place in its division. Courtesy photo
GCMS Grand Roboteers team members (from left) Grace Osusky, Cameron Wakefield, Mackay Wakefield and Ryan Reed compete at the Southeastern Regional Robotic Qualifier in Price on Jan. 5. The team, part of the BEACON after-school program, took fourth place in its division. Courtesy photo
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The BEACON afterschool program’s two robotics teams competed at the Southeastern Regional Robotic Qualifier in Price on Saturday, Jan. 5. The BEACON Robocreeps battled it out with seven other school teams within the southeast region, with the top two teams advancing to the First LEGO League (FLL) competition in Salt Lake City at the end of January.

The Helen M. Knight Elementary School Robocreeps took third place and earned the Judge’s Trophy award. Team members Cayden Kirks, Ben McGraw and Ethan Cornelius competed in the event. Robocreep members John Goheen and Braxten Pierce were unable to attend.

The BEACON Middle School Grand Roboteers, consisting of team members Grace Osusky, Cameron Wakefield, Mackay Wakefield and Ryan Reed, finished in fourth place at the event.

“Both teams did incredibly well,” BEACON Director Stephanie Dahlstrom said in a news release. “They worked very hard to get ready for the competition and since this is only our second year of participating, their hard work paid off. However, this never would have happened without our wonderful volunteer coaches, Gery Wakefield and Linda Grawet. They have put in countless hours to help get the teams up and running. Additionally, a generous donation from Intrepid Potash has allowed us to grow from one team to having two teams competing.”

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, owner and vice chairman of The LEGO Group, says First Lego League “encourages children to design, construct, and program their own intelligent inventions. This allows them not only to understand technology, but to become masters of it.”

In the competition, the robotic teams build and pre-program their robots to complete a number of ‘missions’ within 2.5-minute trials on an obstacle course. Additionally, each team had to complete a project addressing the theme of “senior citizens” by researching obstacles and then suggesting ways to improve the quality of life for the seniors affected.

“By having afterschool robotics clubs and competing teams, BEACON strives to inspire students’ interest in STEM applications (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math),” Dahlstrom said in the news release.
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