Parker FLL Teams Rise to the Occasion

During the past two weekends, our four Middle School First LEGO League teams have competed in their qualifying tournaments, the culmination of nearly three months of weekly meetings for each of the teams.

On Saturday, December 7, two teams, Jumbo Shrimp and Potentially Kinetic, traveled to Horizon Science Academy and participated in a day of interviews and robot table runs. On Sunday, We Are People We Can Robot were at the Girl Scout Friendship Center in Country Club Hills doing the same. And this past Saturday, December 14, The Cunning Octopi traveled to Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School for their tournament. 

All four teams worked hard throughout the day to improve their robot scores, gave poised and informative presentations about their innovation projects and reflected on what they have been learning from working together and how each of FLL’s Core Values can be a force for positive change both within FLL and beyond.

FLL Core Values
Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

The theme for the year was City Shaper, and projects focused on choosing a building or public space and proposing a solution to a problem that exists there. The judges learned about each team’s problem and proposed solution in a five-minute presentation followed by a five-minute Q & A. 

Jumbo Shrimp proposed a solution for channeling natural light to underground spaces using a system of automated mirrors and fiber optics. Potentially Kinetic proposed a pop-up interactive exhibit at farmers' markets to promote engagement and communication between parents and kids. We Are People We Can Robot worked with Mr. Audrain to help propose how to use part of the LS Science space to expand mycelium and grow mushrooms. And finally, The Cunning Octopi presented on their interview with the owner of Cafe Corbel (just blocks from Parker) and proposed a way to use an augmented reality installation to help increase the café’s visibility and encourage new customers.

Each team also had four two-and-a-half-minute runs of their robot on the table to score as many points as possible, choosing from 14 different missions.

All teams represented themselves and Parker admirably, celebrating innovation and perseverance alongside teams from around the city. Several notable results of the tournaments include:

As a result of their performance, Potentially Kinetic, Jumbo Shrimp and The Cunning Octopi qualified to compete in the State tournament in January!

Thanks to all the volunteers across the city that made these tournaments possible, and congratulations to all teams for their efforts.

Here is a list of the teams and their members and grade levels:

The Cunning Octopi
Nina Ariav (6)
Lia Bahri (6)
Victoria Grove (6)
Zoe Hirsch (6)
Nia Nashashibi (6)
Solena Ornelas Pagnucci (6) 
Naia Trukenbrod (6)
Coaches Jasmine Hart and Adam Colestock

Jumbo Shrimp
Jack Adee (7)
Kiley Moss (6)
Holden Pettinelli (6)
Shade Rothkopf (7)
Max Satterfield (6)
Lionel Schulman (6)
Eli Terman (7)
Jackson Tharin (6)
Emma Webster (7) 
Coaches JP Navin and Adam Colestock

Potentially Kinetic
Caleb Aklilu (8)
Ellis Brown (7)
Luca Candelaria (6)
Lincoln Hamid (7)
Grant Koh (8)
Spencer Koh (6)
Zarin Mehta (7)
Nash Oliphant (6)
Coaches Adrian Leo and Adam Colestock

We Are People We Can Robot
Daniel Chang (6)
Roshun Murthy (6)
Dhruv Moorthy (6)
Beckett Nikitas (7)
Judah Solomon (7)
Chase Wayland (6)
Spencer Weil (6)
Nina Zaldivar (6)
Coaches Adam Colestock and Jasmine Hart

Click here for photos!