Crystal Lake Robotics Teams Advance To State

From Crystal Lake Elementary District 47: The Lovely Lego Ladies, the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) all-girl robotics team from Hannah Beardsley Middle School, competed in the 2017 FLL Hydrodynamics Qualifier in Mundelein in December. The team, comprised of Hannah Beardsley 8th graders Allie Klauser, Sammie Stebbings and Molly Wacaser, as well as Jocelyn Nieze from Fox Lake, competed against 12 other teams and was one of three to advance to the state competition. The Lovely Lego Ladies received a special mention in the Core Values and Robot Design categories, finished third on their “Robot Runs,” and walked away with the highest honor, the Champions Award. The team will be one of 50 competing at the state Einstein tournament at Elgin Community College this Saturday, January 13, 2018. The Lovely Lego Ladies will showcase their innovative water solution and robot at the tournament.

“This is the girls’ fourth and final year in FLL and we’re proud that they’ve qualified for the state tournament each year,” said team coach and parent Taryn Stebbings. Stebbings says it has not always been easy, especially this year as the girls are involved in multiple sports and other activities and finding time for robotics has been tough. In addition, she says, the girls took time to mentor their fifth grade brothers who formed a robotics team of their own this year called BroBOTICS. The BroBOTICS team entered their first FLL competition this year and also received the Champion Award at a Woodstock qualifier in December. They, too, will move on to the state competition in Elgin next weekend.

Reflecting on the past four years, Lovely Lego Ladies’ Sammie Stebbings said, “I've gained many skills from the new experiences. Learning how to speak in front of an audience and using problem-solving skills are a key part of life and FLL is a great way to build these skills. I have also learned more about S.T.E.M. and engineering. I now know how to program and build a robot."

According to teammate Jocelyn Nieze, "It's a great learning experience. I've gone to places and events that I wouldn't have had the chance to go to without being a part of FLL."

Photos courtesy of Crystal Lake Elementary District 47:

(Image 1) Back Row (left to right): The Lovely Lego Ladies -- Sammie Stebbings, Allie Klauser, Jocelyn Nieze and Molly Wacaser; Front Row (left to right): BroBOTICS -- Garrett Stebbings, Austin Klauser, Caleb Nieze and Preston Helm

(Images 2 and 3) Teams in motion