Robotics teams from 10 counties will vie for top honors at West Virginia University Extension Service’s second annual For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology LEGO League Tournament, Saturday (Nov. 15) at WVU Jackson’s Mil.

The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Hall. Doors open to the public at 1:30 p.m. for the table games and awards ceremony.

The tournament will host regular (FLL) and junior (JrFLL) teams from Boone, Harrison, Lewis, Mercer, Monroe, Ohio, Putnam, Roane, Taylor and Upshur counties.

The top-performing teams will move on to the state tournament in December.

“More and more careers require some knowledge of computer programming and other technology skills,” said Jennifer Robertson-Honecker, WVU Extension Science, Technology, Engineering and Math specialist. “The leagues introduce these skills, as well as engineering and design- based learning, to elementary and middle school students through the excitement of a robotics competition.”

Participants must display communications skills, teamwork and sportsmanship in front of a panel of judges.

FIRST LEGO League introduces students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. Guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, teams discover exciting career possibilities and learn to make positive contributions to society.

“A great outcome of the program is that these youths build self-confidence and life skills while having fun with their friends,” Robertson-Honecker said.

The tournament is sponsored by the WVU Extension 4-H Youth Development unit, with assistance from the NASA Space Grant Consortium. The Space Grant Consortium has also provided funding for new teams, various regional tournaments and the state tournament.

“The tournament is a high energy event and the kids have a really good time,” Robertson-Honecker said. “You can hear cheers as their robots score points through various obstacles and missions on the table. It’s just as exciting as any other sporting event – except here they’re also learning critical thinking and technical skills that will serve them in their future educations and careers.”

FIRST LEGO League was created through a partnership between FIRST and LEGO in 1998, as an opportunity to get children excited about science and technology, and teach them valuable life skills. Today there are more than 20,000 teams in 70 countries around the world.

For more than a century, 4-H has focused on agricultural science, electricity, mechanics, entrepreneurship and natural sciences. Today, 4-H out-of-school opportunities also exist in subjects like rocketry, robotics, biofuels, renewable energy and computer science.

To learn more about new opportunities in the 4-H program, visit www.ext.wvu.edu, or contact a local office of the WVU Extension Service.

-WVU-

mlb/11/12/14

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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