Teamwork pays off

Back in September, Richelle joined a FIRST Lego League team and I was catapulted into becoming a coach through no desire of my own.

Well, our team of five girls worked hard on learning enough about computers to run the programing software, researching a climate-related problem in our area and the solutions used to combat it, finding another area in the world with the same problem and what their solution is and coming up with a way to present their information to others. The final part of the project was to come up with an innovative solution but they didn't get that part done. They also problem-solved how to earn the most points off the board by completing pre-set missions with the Lego robot they had programmed.

They also learned about teamwork, stress management, working on their own with only guidance from adults, time management, and understanding gracious professionalism and friendly competition.

Saturday was our qualifying tournament. There were supposed to be thirteen teams competing from Klammath Falls area, Coos Bay area, Roseburg area, and the Eugene area and one from as far away as Bly but because of the inclement weather there were only eight.

The teams are scored in four areas: teamwork, technical, the project, and the missions. The scores are tallied and trophies awarded at the end of the competition but no one except the judges and Tournament Director know what the scores are. This is to foster the idea of Friendly Competition and Gracious Professionalism.

There are several categories for trophies. Champion's Award, a Champion's Runner-Up Award, Young Team Award, Rookie Team Award, and Honorable Mention Award. The first three awards advance to the State Championships in January. A team wins only one trophy regardless of the score. For example, if a rookie team scores the highest overall, they only get the Champion's Award; the Rookie Award goes to the next-highest scoring rookie team.

Our team won the Young Team Award. The girls were so shocked and excited! Their smiles stretched from one side of their faces to the other and it was great to see them enjoy the fruits of all their hard work.

On to the State Championships January 17 and 18!