01/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 09:06
BOZEMAN - Montana State University will host two robotics competitions for Montana youth Feb. 7-8 representing nearly 100 teams from across the state. The events are free and open to the public.
Students in grades 4-8 will compete in the FIRST Lego League. Students have spent months building and programming robots made from Lego kits and will compete for the state championship at MSU on Saturday, Feb. 8, in Inspiration Hall in Norm Asbjornson Hall.
Notably, the number of FLL teams has increased from about 60 in last year's qualifying rounds to 95 this year. The finalists will compete at MSU by performing "missions" on pool table-sized playing fields. FLL championship matches are open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube beginning at 10:45 a.m. Mountain time.
Students from grades 7-12 will compete a day earlier, on Friday, Feb. 7, in a divisional round of the FIRST Tech Challenge with more complex robots in Shroyer Gym. The FTC event is open to the public and will also be livestreamed on YouTube beginning at 10:45 a.m. Mountain time.
"This program is rewarding to be a part of, in part due to the support across teams. Yes, they are competing for awards, but if a team needs a missing piece or guidance on how to address a challenge, students jump to lend a helping hand," said Loribeth Evertz, associate teaching professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineeringand coordinator of the competitions. "Many see the design of the robots as the focus of the competition. However, teams are also evaluated on how well they work together and step up as leaders when needed."
To earn their spot to compete at MSU in February, FIRST Lego League students will compete in qualifying tournaments in Billings, Helena, Kalispell or Missoula on Jan. 25.
Rob Maher, professor in MSU's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will coordinate the judging. Haley Ketteler, a graduate student in college of engineering, will serve as the head referee for the competition.
The winning teams from the FIRST Lego League competition will advance to the national competition April 16-19 in Houston.
The competitions are sponsored by the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, Extreme Networks, the Gianforte Family Foundation, Montana Learning Center, Montana Credit Union Network, Montana Robotic Alliance and Northwestern Energy, among others.