Local Students to Compete in LEGO Championship

Most people think LEGO building bricks are simply child's play. But at the FIRST LEGO League State Championship and the Junior FIRST LEGO League State "Show Off" at Clemson University Saturday, March 6, they become much more than that.

Eighty teams from around the state - more than 800 kids, ages 9 to 14 - will come to Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum to compete for the state title and a trip to the World Festival tournament in Atlanta. Teams have been working for months to build autonomous LEGO robots that must complete certain tasks on a 4-foot by 8-foot LEGO obstacle course in two-and-a-half minutes.

The theme of this year's challenge, "Smart Move," is all about transportation. As part of the challenge, teams had to research and solve a real problem in their community related to transportation, such as making transportation safer or more efficient. The robot competition also relates to the theme, as the robots have to maneuver quickly around the course, avoid collisions and be able to survive impact. Teams are scored in four areas: robot performance, the design and programming of the robot, the project and teamwork.

"We're growing the next crop of young scientists and engineers, and this is the best place to see what the future holds," said Chris Minor, senior lecturer in biological sciences at Clemson who volunteers with her husband, John, to coordinate the FIRST LEGO League State Championship.

Not only does the competition teach kids about science, engineering and technology, it also teaches teamwork and sportsmanship.

"The motto of FIRST LEGO League is 'gracious professionalism,'" Minor said. "These kids learn to be competitors on the field, but work side by side and collaborate with one another off the field. They learn a lot about working together."

Younger children, ages 6 to 9, will get their first introduction to LEGO robots and problem solving as 10 teams from the Junior FIRST LEGO League also will be at Littlejohn for the state "Show Off." Teams were tasked with creating LEGO models with moving parts based on the "Smart Move" theme. The students also conducted research on transportation and made posters of their findings.

Dozens of volunteers are needed to help make the event a success. Volunteers help set up before the event, register teams, escort teams around the coliseum, referee and judge the competition and break down after the event. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Minor at mminor@clemson.edu.

The FIRST LEGO League State Championship is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. and competition will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m.

Littlejohn also will be the site of the FIRST Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional for high school students March 25-27.