Times of Brunswick, Winter 2017

Page 49

BEYOND the BOOKS

A World Championship Now in Their Wake a separate project around that theme to present to judges. Teams were judged on how the robot performed, but also on “core values” that emphasized teamwork and “gracious professionalism.” Last fall, Brunswick Middle School fielded three First Lego League teams that met weekly to The Sawdusters — comprised of fifth-graders George Braun, Daniel Ulysse, Reed Gilbert, Ryan West (also below), Colin Devine, and Matthew Lejdstrom — qualified for the state championship and were recognized as Best Rookie Team by First Lego League.

design and program their robot and prepare their presentations. One fifth-grade team, the Sawdusters, made it all the way to the state championships, where it was recognized as Best Rookie Team. “It’s very stressful,” said Ryan West, a member of the

shark. It was to get that same robot

Sawdusters. “Something always

to deliver some food to a gorilla, to

goes wrong — it never goes exactly

milk cows without contaminating

as planned. You have to change

the milk with manure, and to

things at the last minute.”

extract honey from a beehive. Now a global phenomenon, the goal of First Lego League is to

“It’s really challenging to set the robot to do the right thing,” said his teammate, Matthew Lejdstrom.

“inspire the science and technology

Just as in sports, parents and

leaders of tomorrow,” and the chal-

grandparents show up to cheer for

lenge of 2016 was centered on the

teams from the sidelines.

theme of “Animal Allies.” Teams were tasked with

“It feels good to come to a sporting event that’s not a sporting

programming a robot to perform

event,” Suzanne West, mom to

everyday chores, and also to devise

Ryan, said as she watched the Elm City Robot Fest. “It’s so fun.” Virginia Gilbert, grandmother to Reed Gilbert, also made the trip to

Team USA’s U-19 sailing duo of Jack Parkin ’17 (top right)

New Haven that day.

and Wiley Rogers sailed to the 2016 Aon Youth Sailing

“The FLL core values of getting

World Championship title in Auckland, New Zealand.

along and being kind, this is so

Parkin and Rogers, sailing in the Boys 420-Class, won

much of what Brunswick stands

the challenging five-day event in December by navi-

for,” she said. “To see this, I feel

gating past 24 other teams from across the globe. Parkin

very blessed my grandchildren go

will sail collegiately at Stanford University.

to Brunswick.”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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