Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, April 23, 2010

Twenty-three teams from across Fayette County Public Schools participated in the STLP RCX regional robotics competition, hosted by Georgetown College.

The Northern Knights of Northern Elementary took first place in the elementary division, and the Iron Giants from Jessie M. Clark Middle School was runner-up in the middle school division. Both teams advance to the STLP state robotics competition May 11 at Rupp Arena.

Before the April 17 regional contest, all the FCPS teams worked for several months to build an NXT LEGO robot and program it to complete missions autonomously in a field game. Missions based on the theme “ice storm” included such tasks such as retrieving a roof and placing it on a house, opening an ambulance door and de-icing a plane. Teams earned points with each completed task, and they had 2½ minutes to earn as many points as possible in each round. 

Northern’s first-place team included fifth-graders Austin Whitson and Zack Mink and fourth-graders Alex Clark and Christian Jones. They are coached by parent Jerry Whitson and by Laura Checa, coordinator of the Student Technology Leadership Program at Northern.

Jessie Clark’s second-place team included sixth-grader Mikal Kinley and seventh-graders Benjamin Bossert, Ben Stevens and Aaliyah Chapman. Teacher Mark Evans is their coach.

Other schools competing in the STLP RCX RoboChallenge included Ashland, Athens- Chilesburg, Clays Mill, Harrison, James Lane Allen, Rosa Parks, Stonewall and Veterans Park elementaries; Beaumont, Leestown, Lexington Traditional Magnet and Winburn middle schools; and Lafayette High School.

For more information about robotics competitions, contact district technology resource teacher Leanna Prater.