Battle of the robots: Vicksburg teams fourth and fifth at competition

Published 9:45 am Tuesday, February 28, 2017

: Cade Butler and Eli Desper, representing Jackson Classical Homeschool Program based out of Brandon, Ms, celebrate after their robot successfully completes the course during the Animal Allies challenge robotics portion of the State competition of FIRST LEGO League held at The Vicksburg Convention Center on Saturday. The FIRST LEGO League featured competitors in the 4th through 8th grade and the robots are programmed to operate alone and are judged by execution. (Courtland Wells/Vicksburg Post)

The Energetic Engineers of Vicksburg of Vicksburg Catholic Schools finished fourth, and Bowmar Elementary School’s Bowmar Builders Lego League team finished fifth in First Lego League Mississippi Championship robotics competition Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

They were two of five Vicksburg teams competing against eight other teams composed of students in grades 4 through 8 from other schools in the state. The Energetic Engineers received the gracious professionalism award, while the Bowmar Builders received the teamwork award.

Pub Patrol from Brandon Elementary won the championship trophy, while the Creative Blockheads, a group of home-schooled students from McComb, were first runner-up.

A primary goal of LEGO events nationwide is to encourage elementary school students to pursue careers in math and science and to celebrate students’ achievement along the way.

The teams compete in rounds of presentations lasting about 2 ½ minutes each, while judges evaluated the teams on a variety of skillsets, from the design of the robots to how well the students worked together with each other in performing a specific task.

Other Vicksburg teams competing included the Nut Cases from Vicksburg Catholic, programming award; Robo Force, Vicksburg Junior High School, innovation solution award; and The Undecided, a team composed of students from several Vicksburg schools, the judge’s award.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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