Lego robotics team off to state

Since early September, the Broken Top Builders Lego robotics team has been working every week with their innovation project, programming their robot, building challenges, and more - all in preparation for competition with FIRST Lego League.

The program nurtures students' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) through hands-on learning.

Last year, the Sisters-area team came close to going to the state tournament with a team of nine. This year, with a smaller team, they placed second for Central Oregon, and will be advancing to state competition in Hillsboro on January 13.

"We are so proud of this team," said coaches Steve and Julianne Folin. "Great work Amelia Folin and Arora Murphy (sixth grade), and Will Bulloch and Brecken Poulos (fifth grade)."

According to Julianne Folin, "They have had a lot of fun from being picked up from school on Wednesdays, jumping on the trampoline and playing Gaga ball until coach Steve Folin got home from work. Then they would put their heads down and work hard on the tasks ahead of them and missions to complete."

Last year at the qualifying tournament, there were 11 teams competing; this year there were 18 teams, two from Sisters. FIRST Lego league has over 1,000 competing teams from over 198 countries. FIRST Lego League Challenge is for grades 4-8. Competition advances after that - and the robots get bigger.