WKU News

Area students, ages 9 to 14, are among 233,136 children around the world who have risen to the 2015 FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) TRASH TREK℠ Challenge.

On Nov. 21, WKU host a regional FLL Qualifying Tournament as nine teams go head to head, putting about 13 weeks of research, design and programming to the test to win honors and recognition and advancement to the Kentucky FLL State Championship at Northern Kentucky University on Feb. 6. The FLL season will culminate with the FLL World Festival April 27-30 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

To successfully complete the Challenge, teams of young people must build and program a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robot to complete missions on a thematic playing surface, and conduct research to discover what can be done to improve the way we manage waste. Through hands-on experience and working in teams, children have a chance to explore a real-world issue to gain an appreciation for and interest in science and technology.

The regional qualifying tournament lineup features teams from Franklin-Simpson Middle School, Lincoln Elementary School in Franklin, Louisville Robotics Institute, Bowling Green Junior High School, Grayson County Middle School in Leitchfield, Ryland Heights Elementary School in Covington, Henry F. Moss Middle School in Bowling Green and two home school teams from Morgantown.

The tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m. (CST) with the awards ceremony at 2:45 p.m. at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

Event sponsors include WKU, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, Department of Mathematics, Department of Computer Science, Department of Chemistry, Department of Geography and Geology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Penn Station Restaurants of Bowling Green and Tennessee Valley Authority.

About FIRST®: Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $22 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org. To learn more about the “TRASH TREK℠” Challenge, go to www.FIRSTLEGOLeague.org.

About the LEGO Group: The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is still owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family who founded it in 1932. The LEGO Group is engaged in the development of children’s creativity through playing and learning. Based on the world-famous LEGO® brick, the company today provides toys, experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 130 countries. For information, visit www.LEGO.com.

FIRST®, the FIRST® logo, FIRST® Robotics Competition, FRC®, FIRST® Tech Challenge, FTC®, Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism® are trademarks of the United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®). LEGO® and MINDSTORMS® are registered trademarks of the LEGO Group. FIRST® LEGO® League, FLL®, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League, Jr.FLL and TRASH TREK, held trademarks of FIRST and the LEGO Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 FIRST. All rights reserved.

Contact: John Inman, (270) 745-3048