A robotics team made up of three sixth-grade students from Marshall competed in the WPI FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology) Open Invitational in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The 3 Roboteers, FLL team # 57657, is made up of Lia Cubero, Josephine Reinke, and Raegan Thompson and is co-coached by Lori Peel and Stephanie Thompson.
During the event, seventy-five teams highlighted their FIRST season. Teams were judged on presentation of FLL‘s core values, project research and innovation, and robot design and performance on a playing field.
“This opportunity has been such a tremendous experience for the girls, and I am so proud of the way they represented Marshall, Missouri at the competition,” noted Coach Peel.
The Roboteers wrapped up their rookie season earning the 1st Place Core Values Award at the Open Invitational. STEM outreach is a key component of FIRST culture and an important part of the Roboteers’ identity. They have engaged in various community outreach efforts throughout the season to help promote STEM with younger students, which include hosting an after-school robotics camp for third graders. The team also participated in a real-world research project and identified a way to improve a bee feeding system for beekeepers. Their innovation project, The Honey Helper, which is a solar powered float system designed to alert beekeepers when food needs to be replenished, ranked 5th place at the competition.
“It was an unforgettable weekend of robotics, fun, teamwork, the opportunity to interact with teams from other parts of the nation and around the world, seeing all of the other innovation projects, and best of all, tasting and exchanging of candies from other countries,” Cubero said.
Reinke added, “I enjoyed meeting new people from around the world and seeing their ideas. It was a great experience competing with friends and winning an award for our hard work.”
The team also designed, built, and programmed an autonomous LEGO robot to navigate missions of a robot game during the season.
This trip was made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of Marshall and the surrounding communities, as well as families, mentors, coaches, and Marshall Public Schools. The team is currently continuing work to develop their Honey Helper, and making plans to host a summer robotics camp.
Photo courtesy of Lori Peel