Gurnee Lego team powers its way to rookie honors
BY BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com January 23, 2012 7:12PM
Renee Garward helps Carson Zickert, 9, program a LEGO robot as they practice for an upcoming LEGO robot tournament at the Garward residence in Gurnee, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media
Interested in starting
or joining a team?
Call Steve Garward, (847) 855-0388
E-mail Team Full Power! at
fullpowerlego@gmail.com
Updated: February 25, 2012 8:16AM
GURNEE — Months of hard work paid off for the nine members of First Lego League Team Full Power!
The team made its debut at a tournament over the weekend and took home the Top Rookie Team Award, according to coach Steve Garward.
They were one of 18 rookie teams competing at the tournament in Arlington Heights. They placed 18 out of 64 teams, Garward said.
“We did well. They had a lot of fun. It was a little tough for them, but they did really, really well,” Garward said.
The team, made up of members ages 8 to 13, has been meeting at the Garward residence in Gurnee since August. They built their robot out of Lego pieces and created the robot’s programming to perform challenges provided by First Lego League.
Team Full Power! came back from the tournament inspired to try some new ideas out, Garward said. They are going to take a couple of weeks off as a break, but will continue meeting through the summer, he said.
First Lego League will not provide robot kits or information on the next challenge until fall 2013.
“We certainly want to keep them going — they’ll be back for sure,” Garward said.
Looking to the team’s second year, Garward said he is also working how to arrange more local teams. Another nine or so children are interested, but teams have a maximum capacity of 10. Team Full Power! is at nine members, he said.
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