Local elementary teams compete for two regional LEGO League slots

Students and staff held a LEGO robotics judging session to select the two elementary teams that will advance to next month's regional FIRST LEGO League competition. The program leader said this is the group's sixth year doing robotics and their second year running a Lehi program, and that only two elementary teams can be sent to regionals.

Judging covered three components, the organizer said: a mission-coding challenge on the floor in which teams program robots to complete tasks such as lifting, pushing, gathering or moving objects; a presentation delivered to judges; and a robot design review in which teams explain design choices. A student described learning coding and how the smaller robot parts come together to perform larger functions, and noted the team progression from simple alignment missions to tasks that lift, sort and transport objects.

Participants tied this year's missions to an archaeological-digs theme. One student said coding the robot was their favorite part and praised Lawton's STEM programs, saying the schools have some of the best STEM programs in Oklahoma and the United States.

No formal votes or policy decisions were recorded during the session; the purpose was selection and judging for the competition.