Carson City students to apply research and robotics during LEGO League challenge

Teams of school children from Carson City with a knack for building and design will join students throughout Northern Nevada in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) challenge, Saturday, Dec. 8 at Sparks High School.

FIRST is founded by inventor Dean Kamen as a way to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. The competition brings its biggest-ever annual FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) season to Northern Nevada with the 2012 “Senior Solutions℠” Challenge.
 
This year’s Challenge calls for teams of 9 to 14 year-old children (9 to 16 outside the U.S. and Canada) to research and present their own creative solutions to one of today’s most relevant topics: aging, and how to counter the effects of aging while maintaining a good quality of life.

This weekend at Sparks High School, eight weeks of research and design will culminate in the FLL Northern Nevada Championship  where 26 teams of children and coaches will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community.

The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Sparks High School, 820 15th Street Main in the gym. It is free and open to the public.

Carson City teams include: The PAC MEN of Carson City, Eagle Valley LEGO Bombs, Eagle Valley R.O.B.S.,Carson Middle Solons, Eagle Valley Junior Geek Squad and the Empire Elementary Robuddies.
  
With missions including mobility, flexibility, balance, and memory, teams will have to program their LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots to explore the growing questions around how to remain independent, engaged and connected with the intended purpose of leading happier and healthier lives even as we age.
 
“Senior Solutions” was developed with the input of experts on aging:
— Alexandra Drane – Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, Eliza Corporation
— Patti Drelick, President, New Hampshire Association of Senior Centers, Ingram Senior Center
— Dr. William Gage, Assistant Professor, York University, Alliance in Graceful Aging Steering Committee
 
The FLL competition is judged in four areas: project presentation; robot performance; technical design and programming of the robot; and teamwork, with a consideration of the FLL Core Values. The highest honor will go to the team that best exemplifies the spirit and values of the program.
                                     
The event also includes 75 Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) participants displaying their LEGO models and research projects. Now in its ninth year, Junior FIRST LEGO League is geared toward 6 to 9 year-olds, introducing them to the wonders of science and technology through traditional, open-ended LEGO building with an age-appropriate Challenge based on the FIRST LEGO League theme.
 
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program for 9 to 16 year-old children (9 to 14 US, CAN, MEX) created in a partnership between FIRST and The LEGO Group in 1998 to get children excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable employment and life skills. Using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technologies and LEGO Education materials, children work alongside adult mentors to design, build, and program autonomous robots and create an innovative solution to a problem as part of their research project. After eight intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. Like any other organized “sport,” teams also fundraise, create a team identity, and go on field trips.
 
“FIRST LEGO League provides a fun and engaging experience for children around the world to become innovators and creative problem solvers on a very relevant and real topic,” said Jacob Kragh, vice president, LEGO Group. “Using a real-world issue to drive a process where children are in control empowers them with a chance to take what they learn and apply it to their own lives, not only during this challenge, but also to their future adventures and endeavors.”
 
Currently in its 12th year, FIRST LEGO League anticipates its biggest season ever, with more than 20,000 teams in more than 70 countries competing in hundreds of Qualifying Tournaments and Championship Tournaments. More than 170,000 children will compete to win honors and recognition.

Teams will also have the opportunity to participate at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival, to be held in conjunction with the FIRST Championship, April 24-27, 2013 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. In addition, more than 10,000 6 to 9 year-olds are expected to participate in Junior FIRST LEGO League this season.
This weekend’s Northern Nevada Championship Tournament is being sponsored by FIRST NV, Sparks High School, Home Depot. 

“This year’s challenge is a salute to the all the seniors in our lives.  We are so excited to see students solve problems that face our Seniors.  It’s terrific to connect the young with our elderly and this challenge has made that truly happen.”  Dana Smith, parent.
 

Other Participating Teams include:
Coral Academy of Sciences -Team Talon
Mason Valley 4H - T.I.G.E.R.'s
Douglas County - M Cubed
Smithridge STEM Academy- Bionic Stallions
Incline Village - Brickitects
Incline Village - Bricks on the Brain
High Desert Montessori - Mustangs
Mendive Magnet - Team Illusion
Humboldt County 4-H Bot Builders
Pine Middle School - Operation Pinestorm
Brookfield School - High Vibe Bots
O'Brien Middle School Lions
O'Brien Middle School Lions 2
Clayton Middle School Magnet
Veterans Elementary- Eaglebots
Wells Combined School
Mason Valley 4H -T.I.G.E.R.s 2
The Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows -The Biggest Little Team
Duncan Elementary School - Dolphins
Hunsberger Robotic League

ABOUT FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $12 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org. To learn more about the “Senior Solutions℠” Challenge, go to www.FIRSTLEGOLeague.org.

ABOUT THE LEGO GROUP
The LEGO Group is a privately-held firm based in Billund, Denmark. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities through high-quality, creatively educational play materials, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." For more information, visit www.LEGO.com.

FIRST®, the FIRST® logo, FIRST® Robotics Competition, FRC®, FIRST® Tech Challenge, FTC®, and Gracious Professionalism® are registered trademarks of the United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®). LEGO® and MINDSTORMS® are registered trademarks of The LEGO Group. FIRST® LEGO® League, FLL®, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League, Jr.FLL®, and Senior