Judging by the huge turnout at the recent, 19th annual School City of Hammond local First Lego League Invitational tournament at Morton High School, this unique competition is alive and well and as popular as ever.
“We had an excellent day of team building, Lego Robotics, and learning about water,” said Ray Lisky, event coordinator and assistant to the principal of Harding Elementary School. “In total, there were 15 teams this year that competed.”
This year’s theme of the contest was water, and the students presented their ideas on the auditorium stage at different intervals during the day.
In between the table competition times, students ate lunch, socialized and practiced their moves.
Coaches from all of the teams were proud of their students’ presentations, which they had worked on months before the event.
The general consensus was that since everyone likes Legos, putting them together with a learning experiences is a win-win situation.
They also commented on the benefits garnered from the encounters the contestants faced during the preparation stage.
“On a personal level, they learned about responsibility, respect and teamwork,” said Edison School coach Shane Ostapchuk. “And this competition is a great way to show that. Legos and science go hand-in-hand.”
Jefferson School coach Melissa Bensley agreed, and added, “Legos can be a catalyst to many other areas.”
Scorekeeper Darlene Markovich has been involved with Hammond’s annual Lego event for many years. “The kids are always so excited to be here,” she said, as the afternoon table competition began. “And it’s not just the table competition, it’s everything that’s involved with a new learning experience.”
Laura and Jim Hendricks of Hammond have attended many FLL events during the past five years- observing their own two sons, as well as other family members.
“The way the kids handle the challenges of this contest are impressive,” Jim Hendricks said, as the couple dropped in to watch the contest in the auditorium. “They are gaining experience not only with the particulars of the competition itself, but also with the value of relating what they learned in the classroom into real-world experience.”
The FLL robotics competition began in 1999, with a few groups piloting a small-scale robot competition in areas such as the Museum of Science and Industry and the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis.
Since that time, there has been immense interest in FLL, and it has grown extensively throughout not only the US, but expanded throughout the world as well.
There are a few other districts in Northwest Indiana that are beginning to develop FLL programs, but the School City of Hammond continues as the only district in Lake County to have sustained a program of this size year after year, according to Liskey.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Overall awards
1st Lincoln Elementary School
2nd Jefferson Elementary School
3rd River Forest Middle School
4th Warren Elementary School Robotrix
5th Warren Elementary School Roboticons
6th Griffith Middle School
Category awards
1st Robot Game River Forest Middle School
1st Project Jefferson Elementary School
1st Robot Design Lincoln Elementary School
1st Core Values Warren Elementary School Robotrix
1st Team Spirit Clark Middle School
Achievement awards
Project Franklin Elementary School
Robot Game Edison Elementary School
Robot Game Gavit Middle School
Robot Design Griffith Middle School
Robot Design Scott Middle School
Robot Design Maywood Elementary School
Core Values Columbia Elementary School
Core Values Harding Elementary School
Core Values Hess Elementary School
Core Values Warren Elementary School – Roboticons
