UCS students build success at annual ThunderQuest lego robotics tournament

Utica Community Schools teams built a winning combination at the annual Lego Robotics ThunderQuest tournament on November 24.

UCS teams took home more than a third of the honors awarded at ThunderQuest, including eight first-place awards and the overall Champions Award given to a team from Beck Elementary.

More than 40 regional teams participated at this year’s event, with the top 11 teams going to the state championship level. ThunderQuest, sponsored annually by Utica Community Schools, is Michigan’s largest regional FIRST LEGO League competition.

UCS teams qualifying for the state tournament in December include the first-place Lego Mages, of Beck Elementary, the Master Bearded Brains of Switzer Elementary, and the Burr Robodogs from Burr Elementary.

Results of the ThunderQuest for UCS teams include:

· Champions Award - first place, the Lego Mages of Beck Elementary

· Mechanical Design – first place, the Master Bearded Brains of Switzer Elementary

· Robot Performance – first place, Lego Mages of Beck Elementary

· Research – first place, The Browning Bots of Browning Elementary; second-place Burr Robodogs of Burr Elementary

· Inspiration – first place - The Robo-Squids of Beck Elementary

· Gracious Professionalism – second place, The BOSS Builders of Morgan Elementary

· Best Costume – first place, The Constellation Conservers of Messmore Elementary

· Rising Stars – first place, The Robot Reusers of Beck Elementary

· Robot Playoff Winner – first place, The Lego Mages of Beck Elementary

The ThunderQuest tournament featured several competitions, including a tech presentation where students create an autonomous robotic vehicle that will follow a course on a 4X8 table.

Students also compete in teamwork competitions and display a project that describes their solution for issues identified through the national World Class challenge.

This year’s challenge is Trash Trek, which focuses on renewable resources.