Schools
Utica Community Schools dominates robotics competition
UCS teams nearly half of the honors at annual ThunderQuest
Utica Community Schools teams built a winning combination at the annual Lego Robotics ThunderQuest tournament.
UCS teams took home nearly of the honors awarded at ThunderQuest, including five first-place awards and the overall Champions Award given to a team from Harvey Elementary.
Nearly 50 regional teams participated at the November 17 event, with the top 10 teams going to the southeast Michigan State Championship. ThunderQuest, sponsored annually by Utica Community Schools, is Michigan’s largest regional FIRST LEGO League competition.
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UCS teams qualifying for the state tournament include the first-place Rockin’ Bots, of Harvey Elementary; Tuxedo Purr-itos Meowt into Space, from Switzer Elementary; Rocket Robots, of Morgan Elementary; and Dynamic Duncan Doers, of Duncan Elementary.
Specific honors earned by UCS teams from ThunderQuest include:
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- Champions Award 1st Place – Rockin’ Bots, of Harvey Elementary
- Mechanical Design 2nd Place – Dynamic Duncan Doers, of Duncan Elementary
- Programming 2nd Place – Smart Bots, of Beck Elementary
- Strategy & Innovation 2nd Place – BBD Bots, of Beck Elementary
- Research 1st place – Tuxedo Purr-itos Meowt Into Space, of Switzer Elementary
- Inspiration 1st Place – Roberts Rovers, of Roberts Elementary
- Teamwork 1st Place – Rocket Robots, of Morgan Elementary
- Team Spirit 1st Place – Roberts Curiosity, of Roberts Elementary
New this year was the first ever FLL Tournament Jr. Tournament for students under the age of nine. The Robotic Wreckers, from Browning Elementary, captured first place for innovation in the junior competition.
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 “Into Orbit” challenge.
Source: Utica Commuity Schools
Dr. Christine Johns, Superintendent of Schools
