GIRARD The robots were off to hopefully accomplish their required tasks and earn their teams points, as area students from northeastern Ohio competed at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League regional tournament held at Girard High School.
Liberty's W.S. Guy Middle School's ''Robotic Leopards'' were among the local teams that competed.
Judy Barber, an adviser for robotics team at Girard High School, said the theme this year was food safety.
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Liberty Community News / Bob Coupland
Liberty W.S. Guy Middle School students Salam Picard and Josh Hyman, both eighth graders, were among the Liberty ‘‘Robotic Leopards’’ team members who took part in the the regional FIRST Lego League competition held recently at Girard High School.
The students have to accomplish a series of tasks with the robot within a certain time period to earn points.
In addition to getting their robots to complete a set of tasks there is also a two-minute presentation by teams to share knowledge on food safety
Students in grades fourth to ninth in 22 school districts competed locally at the regional with winners moving to the districts at Akron University in January.
Students gained knowledge about food being bacteria free and how pollution often is the cause of the bacteria.
Local teams were from Liberty, Badger, Champion, Lakeview and Girard and teams from the Cleveland area.
Barber noted that many of the elementary age and middle school students do continue with robotics at the high school level.
"About 30 to 35 percent of my high school students took part in the Lego program when they were in junior high. It really helps them be more prepared for the robotics program at the high school level,'' Barber said.
Weeks of preparation by teams of students ages 9 to 14 culminated at the Warren G. Harding Regional, where 24 Northeast Ohio FLL teams demonstrated their problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, and professionalism in early December. Top performers at both events will advance to the University of Akron Ohio FLL District Tournament on Jan. 14 and 15
Schools interested in starting a FIRST Lego League team can call Gail at 330-219-7833 or Travis Hoffman at 330-219-7848