The Greene County Godzillas FIRST LEGO League team qualified for state competition with a plan to renovate the current middle school for use as a law enforcement and emergency response center and public meeting space.
The Godzillas competed at the regional Iowa FIRST LEGO League qualifer in Glidden on Saturday, Dec. 7. Team members are 5th-8th graders enrolled at Greene County Schools. Participants include Aden Bardole, Nehemiah Hoyt, Gavin VanderLinden and Lucy VanderLinden. Coaches are Jason Smith and Wendy VanderLinden.
Each year, FIRST LEGO League releases a challenge theme. Once the theme is announced, teams have three months to design, program and build their robot and complete a research project related to the challenge theme. Teams then sign up for a regional qualifier event through Iowa State University College of Engineering. During the qualifer event, the team presents its project, explains its robot design and completes a Core Values activity. The organization focuses on gracious professionalism and coopertition through Core Values (discovery, innovation, impact, teamwork, inclusion and fun).
The Godzillas have been meeting a minimum of twice a week since September to prepare for competition. This year’s research project follows the theme City Shapers. The team has to identify a problem with a building or public space in their community and come up with an innovative solution to the problem.
The Godzillas’ chose the Greene County Middle School as their project. They decided to turn the middle school into the location for law enforcement and emergency personnel as well as a large meeting space for organizations to rent out. The group designed a new layout of the middle school using a 3-D model.
“This is the third year Greene County has had a LEGO League team,” said Kayla Willms, Greene County Extension youth & 4-H coordinator, “I am proud of the participants and the volunteers for all of their hardwork this year. Jason and Wendy have donated countless hours to help make each year a success. I would also like to thank the team sponsor, the Greene County 4-H Foundation, who cover supplies and registration costs for the competitions.”
The Greene County Godzilla’s took home three awards on Saturday: the Project Award, the Global Innovation Award nomination and the Champion’s Award. The Project Award and the Global Innovation Award nomination (GIA) are for their idea to rennovate the middle school. The GIA encourages teams to continue to develop their innovative solution to their research project. Champion’s Award is the highest award a team can receive at the regional qualifer, showing that the team performed well in all judging areas. The Greene County Godzillas are advancing to the state competition on Jan. 18 at Iowa State University to compete in the robot competition and share their innovative solution to rennovating the middle school after the new high school is built.
