Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, April 25, 2011

Twenty-nine teams from Fayette County Public Schools participated in this year’s STLP RCX regional robotics competition, hosted by Georgetown College.

The Northern Knights of Northern Elementary took first place in the elementary division, and the LTMS Blackcats from Lexington Traditional Magnet School topped the middle school field. Both teams advance to the Student Technology Leadership Program’s state robotics competition May 13 at Rupp Arena.

The Northern team, coached by Jerry Whitson and Laura Checa, included Alex Clark, Ashley James, Fabian Martinez and Rene Salgado.

The LTMS team, coached by Robbie Randall and Jerry Whitson, included Reagan Prater, Cassidy Kemplin, Zach Mink, Lydia Duncan and Austin Whitson From Bryan Station Middle School.

Before the April 16 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 “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” included such tasks such as aligning windmills, retrieving and delivering a solar generator and closing a circuit. Teams earned points with each completed task, and they had 2½ minutes to earn as many points as possible in each round.

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