Ready to Win. From left to right: Bailey Smith, Ethan Wimer, and Henry Cerbone gear up for a robot table run during the West Virginia State FIRST Lego League (FLL) tournament held at Fairmont State University on December 6th.
The Astronomically Accurate Astronomers, a Preston county FIRST Lego League (FLL) team from back row left to right: Henry Cerbone & Bailey Smith, Middle Row: Quincy Knox (holding plaque) Lexi Welch and Ethan Wimer, Front Row: Brianna Smith and Gabby Wolfe.
Ready to Win. From left to right: Bailey Smith, Ethan Wimer, and Henry Cerbone gear up for a robot table run during the West Virginia State FIRST Lego League (FLL) tournament held at Fairmont State University on December 6th.
Submitted Photo
The Astronomically Accurate Astronomers, a Preston county FIRST Lego League (FLL) team from back row left to right: Henry Cerbone & Bailey Smith, Middle Row: Quincy Knox (holding plaque) Lexi Welch and Ethan Wimer, Front Row: Brianna Smith and Gabby Wolfe.
Christmas came just a little bit early for a small, but determined group of gifted children. The Astronomically Accurate Astronomers, a Preston county FIRST Lego League (FLL) team, won the Second Place Champions Award at the West Virginia State FIRST Lego League (FLL) tournament held at Fairmont State University on December 6.
“We were so excited when they finally announce that our team placed second,” Team Mentor and Mother Kimberly Wimer said. “The judges actually clapped.”
FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) introduces young people, ages 9 to 14* (grades 4-8), to the fun and excitement of science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge, and valuable career and life skills. FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. Alongside adult Mentors, FLL teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques, and robots
The seven-member team made up of middle school students from 5 five different schools in the county, was chosen out of two other Preston FIRST Lego League teams who all competed in a special qualifying event held in Morgantown. The Astronomically Accurate Astronomers – that’s the name the team came up with, won a first place plaque in robot design. Winning at the qualifying level was hard enough, but now they had to face 102 teams from across the state.
“The challenge this year was all about learning,” Wimer explained. “
Teams from all over West Virginia gave unique presentations examining how they learn, what they learn, and the ways learning has changed. Teams also develop a question about how learning can be improved.
The Astronomically Accurate Astronomers created a skit that was a spoof on Star Wars as well as developed a beta website that allows users to gather information about objects in the universe. The team also had to build and program an autonomous robot that could complete missions.
“The robot the Preston team created was named after the famous Star Wars robot R2D2,” Wimer said. “They also competed in a teamwork challenge.”
Immediately after the seven-member team completed their final task, tournament judges called them back for a final demonstration.
“The team did their Star Wars Themed skit once again for the judges,” Wimer said.
And after a quick round of applause and a long hurry-up and wait, the little team that could from Preston County took home the coveted 2nd place prize.
The team still maintains the website they developed, with the help of West Preston 6th Grade Teacher Lexi Welch. The website address is: www.skynetidentifier.weebly.com.
You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
Post a comment as Anonymous Commenter
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.