Choctaw Central hosts LEGO tournament

Choctaw Central hosts LEGO tournament

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Students and adults alike joined together in the Choctaw Central High School gymnasium for the 19th Annual Choctaw Tribal Schools First LEGO League Tournament.

Tracey Hartness, supervisor of the LEGO League tournament, said the tournament is a hands-on, interactive engineering program that captivates students’ interest in science and technology as they learn problem-solving and team-building skills. 

“I want to give a special thanks to Chief Cyrus Ben and Dr. Grierson for offering words of encouragement and support, and to our volunteers who donated their time, energies, and talents to the Choctaw Tribal Schools’ FIRST LEGO® League Tournament,” Hartness said. “Your contributions will have a lasting impact on our “Engineers of Tomorrow”. 

Dr. Randy Grierson is director of the Choctaw Tribal Schools.

The tournament happened on May 7. Pearl River Elementary (Challengers and Ablegamers), Conehatta (C-Town Builders) and Choctaw Central Middle School (CCMS Robotics) all competed in the tournament.

The challenge for 2022 was the Cargo Connect, where teams were tasked with exploring the future of transportation, from the shipment of packages in rural and urban areas, to disaster relief delivery and high-tech air transit.

The goal of the tournament was to motivate teams to re-imagine faster, more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable transportation innovations that better connect and grow communities and economies around the world.

Each challenge consisted of four parts: the Robot Game, Robot Design, Innovative Project, and Core Values.

The following awards were presented to the teams:  

Robot Design Award (Able Gamers Group, Pearl River Elementary)

This award recognized a team that designed a mechanically sound robot that is durable, efficient, and highly capable of performing challenge missions. The team utilized outstanding programming principles, including clear, concise, and reusable code that allowed their robot to perform challenge missions autonomously and consistently.

Solid engineering principles and a well-developed strategy was used to design and build an innovative, high performing robot.

Able Gamers Group team members include Beauwy Bell, A’Lali Dixon, Kenndi Dixon, Lazarus Isaac, Eliyah Jimmie, Caleb Phillips, Jalaya Routh, Alivia Stell Ashton Stephens, Jazlee Wesley, Alaysia Steve, Chayton Willis, and Coach Gloria Seward. 

Innovation Project Award (C-Town Builders, Conehatta Elementary School)

This award was presented to Conehatta Elementary School’s C-Town Builders for their utilization of diverse resources to formulate an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the problem they identified.

Hartness said C-Town’s solution was exceptionally creative, with good potential to solve the problems researched.

“This award recognizes a team that effectively communicated the problem and their proposed solution to both judges and other potential supporters,” she said.  

The C-Town Builders team members include Trinity Tubby, Cambee Johnson, Kayliona Kessinger, James Hickman, Aleric Thomas, Konley Anderson, Midnite Hall, Rodgrick Anderson, Layden  Johnson, Eli Williamson, Elias Williamson, Coach Wanda Estes, Coach Heather Compton, and Coach Christianne Gibson. 

FIRST LEGO League Core Values Award (Challengers, Pearl River Elementary School)

Hartness said this award celebrated a team that was empowered by their FLL experience and displays extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit.

“They accomplished more together than they could as individuals through shared goals, strong communication, effective problem solving, and excellent time management,” Hartness said. “This team’s members always show each other and other team’s respect. They recognize that both friendly competition and mutual gain are possible, on and off the playing field.”

The Challengers team members include Kenisha Jefferson, I’Tyreian Wallace, Ah-Ba-Le Jim, Kaizlyn Hardin, Dale Phillips, Nizhoni McMillan, Jayleb Dixon, Keyston Willis, Laythom Curlin, Kairyn Dixon, Jade Martin, and Coach Tressie Charlie. 

Champion’s Award (CCMS Robotics Team, Choctaw Central Middle School)

This award recognized a team that embodied the FIRST LEGO League experience, by fully embracing the CORE Values while achieving excellence and innovation in both the Robot Game and Project.

CCMS Robotics team members include Ellee McMillan, Yuriana Crosby, Heaven Hodges, Seth Lewis, Zoe Bell, Anniston Billy, Xhaiden Edwards, Keydren Thompson, Peyton Willis, Printiss Jim, Coach Amie Frulla, and Coach Karla Clearman. 






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