These are the Robosapiens. They just earned an invitation to the prestigious Worcester Polytechnic Institute First Lego League Invitational, and they are ready to show the world that Montana kids are full of grit, determination, creativity, AND cutting-edge STEM skills! Help us send this amazing team of Middle Schoolers to represent Montana at the WPI Invitational in Worcester, Massachusetts!

Teams in the First Lego League Challenge Competition design, build, and program a Lego robot to score points by completing a variety of missions in a two-and-a-half-minute game. These nine students’ improvement in their programming and design skills is inspiring. Since September, they have expanded their ability to program using the Python programming language, and they have put their design skills to use to develop elegant and effective attachments that allow them to solve some of the more challenging missions. They did great at their Montana competitions, and they are working hard to get even better as they prepare for this world class challenge!

A second major aspect of the competition is to develop and present an Innovation Project in which the students design a solution to a real-world problem aligned with the competition’s annual theme. This year’s theme is “Submerged” and has to do with problems faced by people who explore the ocean. The Robosapiens’ Innovation Project is an autonomous robotic shark that seeks out and captures plastic pollution in sensitive marine ecosystems. They call it Project Elektra. In addition to detailed research and intricate drawings, they made a beautiful paper mâché model of the robot and have prepared a very professional presentation. They are excited and determined to make further innovations to Project Elektra, striving for a truly world class product, process, and presentation at the WPI Invitational!

In addition to feeding the Robosapiens’ insatiable appetite for STEM learning, the WPI Invitational will also provide a cross-cultural experience as they interact with teams from across the globe. Can you imagine how this week of sharing and learning with other young, impact-minded students will shape their view of the world and their place in it? Your financial investment in this team will help pay for the travel, housing, food, registration, and supplies necessary to participate in this invaluable experience. Thank you for your generous contributions, and World, watch out!

Questions? Contact Alec Arntzen at atarntzen@mcpsmt.org

Empower Robosapiens' STEM Dreams at World Class Invitational