Ely students compete in Lego League Minnesota

TEAMMATES ARE: (Front): Bryce Ferdig, Henry Lowe, Leo Stalmer, Tommy Homer, (row 2): Sam Favet, Lily Dirks, Asher Folz, Abigail Johnson, back: Mariah Jeske, Chris Hegenbarth, Morgan McClelland, Robert Towley, Braydin Mosher, Peter McClelland. Submitted photo
On Saturday, December 9, two Memorial Middle School teams and their robots participated in the FIRST® LEGO® League competition at Hermantown Middle School. Known as the “sport for the mind” the competition involves building and programming robots to perform several missions in a set of timed competitions, as well as a research and presentation component. Participation prepares kids for STEM related fields and develops life skills.
FIRST® LEGO® League in Minnesota is part of an international robotics program that includes more than 200,000 children in 63 countries. This year at 638 teams, Minnesota is home to the second largest number of teams in the world.
Ely fielded two teams, each competing with the robot they designed, built and programmed. Each team completed three 2.5 minute rounds where points are scored by completing missions on the themed challenge board. This year’s them was hydrodynamics, and each team researched and made a presentation on a real-world project related to the theme. Robot design and programing are also judged components of the competition.