Two teams from Martinsville City Public Schools (MCPS) earned top honors at the VA+DC FIRST LEGO League Challenge state championship, held at James Madison University on December 7-8. The event, which brought together more than 100 teams from Virginia and Washington, D.C., showcased the best in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education through robotics and problem-solving challenges.
In Division 2, Absolute Zero from Martinsville Middle School earned first place in Core Values, while Scuba Squad from Patrick Henry Elementary School secured third place in the highly competitive Division 1 Robot Design category.
The accomplishments of these two teams were complemented by the strong performances of two additional MCPS teams, Wasteland Warriors and Wave Wobblers, who also competed in the championship after qualifying at the regional tournament in November.
“We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements in robotics and engineering,” said Dr. Zebedee Talley, superintendent of MCPS. “This success is a testament to the dedication of our students, the support from our parents and community, and our district’s commitment to fostering excellence in STEM education.
We look forward to continuing to build on this success in future competitions. Go MCPS!”
FIRST LEGO League challenges students to design and program robots to complete timed tasks, while also presenting their design, mission strategy, and coding process to a panel of judges.
Teams also tackle real-world problems related to an annual theme and are evaluated on their Core Values, including discovery, innovation, inclusion, and teamwork.
The competition encourages the development of technical skills such as programming and engineering, while also honing vital soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Adelaide Brent, a fifth grader on the Wave Wobblers team, made her second trip to the state championship this year.
“It’s really fun because you get to see other teams’ projects and have fun with your team,” she said. “It was fun being on a college campus too—that was really cool.” Brent, who aspires to be an architect, especially enjoys coding the robot. “I like it best because I like challenges,” she explained.
For many participants, the FIRST LEGO League competition serves as a springboard into STEM fields, with several former MCPS robotics team members now pursuing engineering degrees in college.
In fact, at least eight Martinsville graduates in recent years have gone on to study engineering, highlighting the long-term impact of the program.
“We are beyond proud to have had four teams from our district qualify for the state robotics tournament,” said Tammy Allen, MCPS Coordinator of STEM, Math, and Science. “Competing against the best teams in the state was an incredible honor, and seeing two of our teams bring home trophies speaks to their hard work and dedication. We can’t wait to build on this success and see even more teams qualify next year!”
The students and coaches who represented MCPS at the state championship are as follows:
Wave Wobblers: Mercy Moore, Adelaide Brent, Elanz Lozano, Espen Troncoso, CaNadria Waller, Mason Rea, Jacob Ratliff, Emelia Blankenbaker, Naryah Williams, Sophia Olberg. Coaches: Elizabeth Lynch, Elizabeth Fulcher, Megan Gualdin.
Wasteland Warriors: Amyrah Dillard, Aiden Boaz, Aubrey Kirby, Kim Quach, Amreen Narula, Nate Butcher, Emersyn Crockett, Grayson Hawks, Faith Dandridge. Coaches: Erica Crockett and Brooke Holyfield. Mentors: Martinsville High School students Veronica Smith, Hudson Grant, and Aileen Nolasco.
Scuba Squad: Jane Venable, Margo Sharp, Wesley Walker, Emery Taylor, Hailey Turner, Sebastion LaPrade, Kavanny Flores, Adelyn McKenzie, Kalia Dillard, Aubree Stone. Coaches: Emily Harrell and Jemeisha Childress.
Absolute Zero: Brooklyn DeShazo, Katie Wall, Kendrick Moyer, Jade Holland Dallas, Kyla Stewert, Hazel Moore, Bridgette Brent. Coaches: Elizabeth Lynch and Elizabeth Fulcher.
As MCPS continues to foster a culture of STEM excellence, these students' achievements underscore the importance of robotics and engineering education in preparing the next generation for success in our increasingly technological world.
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