The competition season for FIRST® LEGO® League is over. Over 440 area students competed during the 2018-2019 INTO-ORBIT season in this dynamic STEM program that is a signature program of EmBe. They built and programmed their robot to complete missions. They researched and presented their innovative solution. They received their medals and trophies. They danced and had fun. However, most of those 66 teams have now finished their season.
However, we do have a few exceptions!
When Life Gives You Llamas
2019 FLL Into-Orbit 1st Place Champions
Team #4713 When Life Gives you Llamas
Team #4713 When Life Gives You Llamas are not new to International Competition. Last year, the team won the Overall Project Award at the Razorback Invitational at the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. This year, they are returning to the Razorback, which hosts 72 teams from all over the United States, as well as Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Scandinavia, Slovenia, and Spain.
The Wednesday after the Championship, the Llamas took their show on the road to Pierre. There they presented to the Governor as well as the legislature!
They will be competing May 16th-19th. In preparation, they are making a series of videos to help other teams up their project presentation game. They are also hosting a Trivia night April 13th, contact Megan Dahle (mdahle@gmail.com) for more information.
The RoboHobos
2019 FLL Into-Orbit 2nd Place Champions
Team #8235 The RoboHobos
Team #8235, The RoboHobos have been a stalwart of the local FLL scene for a number of years. This is their first shot at International Competition, and they are ready to take the LEGOLAND California Open Invitational by storm!
The LEGOLAND has been hosting the event since 2011 and brings together up to 80 teams from all over the US, Canada and beyond. Teams get to enjoy the theme park, water park, and also the Sea Life aquarium as a part of their trip.
The RoboHobos will compete May 17-19 in Carlsbad, California.
The Fantastic Five
2019 FLL Into-Orbit 3rd Place Champions
Team #3344 The Fantastic Five
Team #3344 have had a long run of attending International Events. They attended the Razorback in 2016 and 2017, and this year they are representing South Dakota at the FIRST World Festival in Detroit, Michigan.
Don’t get confused! There is also a FIRST World Festival in Houston, Texas the week before. The festival is so huge (over 30,000 participants from over 70 countries in all four FIRST Programs) that is is split over two weeks. The Fantastic Five will be competing April 24th-27th.
The team has prepared by reworking their Robot Design presentation as well as their Project presentation to include the team member who wasn’t able to attend the Championship. They even got a chance to show their stuff on TV (read the story here). Buttons are being made, and they plan of meeting every FLL Team in Detroit!
In addition to competing, the Fantastic Five will get to tour the Innovation Faire, an expo filled with all of the latest and greatest technological inventions for the team to get hands-on experience with.
All three teams are working on improving their programming and missions, as well as fine-tuning their project and robot design presentations. It goes without saying, but these teams are also working on their Core Values, practicing great teamwork and Gracious Professionalism. We are all proud of you, When Life Gives you Llamas, The RoboHobos, and The Fantastic Five!
