Teams of student competitors from across southwest Georgia—including schools in Cairo, Moultrie, Thomasville, and Bainbridge—took part in the inaugural Thomasville, Georgia, regional FIRST LEGO League Challenge, held on December 14 at Southern Regional Technical College. 

Georgia Tech is the affiliate partner for FIRST LEGO League Challenge, with the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) facilitating the program for the State of Georgia. FIRST LEGO League introduces STEM learning to children ages 4-16 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided global robotics program using LEGO technology, helping today’s students, families, and educators build a better future together. 

Georgia Tech’s K-12 InVenture Prize/Georgia AIM team worked with partners at Southern Regional Technical College and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission to launch the competition, which was preceded by a regional practice session in Bainbridge in October. Approximately 90 students representing 10 teams competed. Team “Mythic Mortals,” from Cairo took home first place honors and will advance to the Central Georgia Super Regional Qualifier at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins. They will be joined at the Super Regional Qualifier by team “Octobots” from Cairo, team “Sunset Elementary Challenge” from Moultrie, Thomas County Middle School teams “9520” and “1739,” and teams “Blue Fins” and “Six Gill Sharks” from Bainbridge. 

“It’s exciting to see students from the Southwest part of the state engaging with technology and robotics in this new competition,” said Danyelle Larkin, director of the K-12 InVenture Prize. “The skills they are learning now can serve them throughout their lives and open up opportunities that will strengthen their communities and uplift the entire region. That's the long-term vision.” 

—Randy Trammell, CEISMC Communications