LEGO competition takes over Nutter Center Published Feb. 19, 2009 By Josh Aycock 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Educational Outreach office here co-sponsored the FIRST LEGO® League Ohio State Championship Feb. 14-15 at the Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center in Fairborn. The "Climate Connections" themed tournament challenged 48 teams comprised of 9-14 year olds from across Ohio to explore why climate is an important issue. Teams took local climate issues and investigated potential solutions by cooperating with local governments, businesses, organizations and citizens across the globe. "It was great to see all that youthful brain power at work, especially in such a fun hands-on way," said Kathleen Schweinfurth, chief of the base Educational Outreach office. Teams spent months researching their respective issues and creating innovative solutions to present to community members and eventually being judged at the championship tournament. Teams also built and programmed robots made completely out of LEGOs to compete in a table competition that simulated issues involved with climate change. A total of scores from the research project, technical presentation, table competition and teamwork ultimately decided the winners. "I learned the most about teamwork in the FLL," said Kasey Lehman a 14-year-old member of the Weather Wizards from Springboro Junior High School. "We came together and by the end of the first meeting it was like we were all best friends." The Incredibots from Columbus, OH took home the highest honor, the Champion's Award, by outscoring all other teams in the four areas. Local teams taking home honors from the weekend included: · Firestorm from Dayton - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Award · Redskin Robots from Fort Loramie - Team Spirit Award · Robo Glitter Girls from Huber Heights - 2nd place in Innovative Solution · Team BRICKS from Springboro - Rising Star Award · The Weather Wizards from Springboro - 2nd place in Creative Presentation · WACO Museum Carbon Crushers from Troy - 2nd place in Innovative Design Although not everyone took home trophies, which were also made out of LEGOs, everyone did walk away with a better understanding of an important issue and maybe some things they don't know they've learned. "It's not just the robots they're building, its life skills," said Susan Holland the team coach for the Turbulent Typhoons from Blendon Middle School in Westerville. "All these kids get such an interest in science; it is really a motivating experience." According to Skip Gridley, judge advisor for the competition and a senior aerospace engineer here, teaching a term dubbed "Gracious Professionalism" is a big part of the competition. Gracious Professionalism strives to instill hard work and intense competition into the competitors while remaining respectful to the other teams and learning from their work. "The kids really demonstrated how fun engineering can be this past weekend and we look forward to creating that same kind of excitement at the FIRST LEGO League U.S. Open in May," said Kathy Levine, FLL of Ohio director. In May 2009 competitors will return to the Dayton area for the first ever FLL U.S. Open Championship where 60 teams from across the United States will share their solutions and compete to be national champions. Students will demonstrate engineering and problem-solving skills, critical thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. The Open will take place at the Nutter Center May 7-9. For more information about the championship tournament and the Ohio FIRST LEGO® League program, visit http://edoutreach.wpafb.af.mil/ohfll.html. Endorsement of FIRST LEGO not intended or implied.