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.”
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