The Roboeagles are the latest First Lego League (FLL) robotics team to join a growing number of teams established by schools throughout the county.
Inman Elementary started the Roboeagles this year with the help of many community volunteers who donated both expertise and financial support to get the team up and running.
Developing and maintaining a Lego robotics team takes a tremendous amount of resources, among them being time outside of school to coach and instruct students, as well as plenty of money to purchase robotics kits and cover competition fees.
The Whitewater Church congregation purchased a new laptop for the team, Nancy Bailey helped finance the team and many families, including the Wager, Bell, McCuller and Siversten families helped with creativity and organization.
Nathan Kufchak, a paraprofessional at Kedron Elementary who started that school’s first-ever FLL robotics team last year, took the new team to state competition.
He is the Roboeagle’s unofficial mentor, and organized opportunities for all of the county teams to collaborate.
Students learn skills such as math and programming while working with the Lego robots.
While exposing students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, Lego robotics also uses communication and teamwork projects to build skills employers desire such as creative thinking and problem solving.
The Roboeagles completed their first Lego League challenge at Rock Spring Elementary in Henry County on Dec. 6. They won the Teamwork Award.
“We are deeply thankful for the people and organizations in our community because, without them, none of this would have been possible,” says Jon Schoening, fifth grade teacher and Roboeagles sponsor and coach.
