DATE: February 07, 2008

CONTACT: Chris Minor, (864) 656-3837
mminor@clemson.edu

WRITER: Angela Nixon, (864) 656-0382
anixon@clemson.edu


S.C. FIRST LEGO League state finals set for Littlejohn

CLEMSON – LEGO-mania will once again hit Clemson University’s Littlejohn Coliseum as the S.C. FIRST LEGO League will hold its state finals there Saturday, Feb. 16.

Competitors at January's regional competition. Eighty teams from across the state will face off in the event for the chance to move on to compete at the national level. In January, 68 teams from around the Upstate came to Littlejohn for the regional LEGO League competition.

“We are thrilled here at Littlejohn to host the FIRST LEGO League state championship. LEGO League embodies our mission to be a multipurpose facility for Clemson University and the Clemson community,” said Holly Hardin Hutchenson, associate director of major events at Littlejohn. “It is an academic endeavor in a sports environment, essentially sports for the mind. It truly is a great event and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Click here for more photos from January's competition. More than 3,000 people are expected at Littlejohn to watch kids ages 9 to 14 maneuver their LEGO robots through challenges and obstacles designed around the theme “Power Puzzle.” The robots must complete as many tasks as possible on a four- by eight-foot LEGO obstacle course in two-and-a-half minutes.

The robots are built from LEGO Mindstorm robotics kits, which contain more than 1,100 pieces, including the LEGO bricks, motors, sensors, software and gears. Teams have been designing and building their robots since September.

This year’s theme “Power Puzzle” is designed to get students thinking about alternative energy sources, said Chris Minor, a senior lecturer in biological sciences who volunteers with her husband, John, to coordinate the S.C. FIRST LEGO League regional and state competition.

As part of the competition, teams also had to research and solve a real-world problem based on the theme. Teams had to assess the energy usage of a building in their community and come up with solutions for saving energy in that building. Teams are scored in four areas: robot performance, the design and programming of the robot, the project and teamwork.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 8 a.m., with competition from 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The regional and state competitions at Littlejohn are sponsored by Clemson’s provost’s office, the State Department of Education and the FIRST Lego League.

Littlejohn will also host the fifth annual FIRST Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional March 28-29.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, N.H., the not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.

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