Area students test their STEM skills at robotics competition
More than 200 students from 17 area schools competed in the First Lego League robotics tournament on Feb. 3 at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde.
The theme of the competition was hydrodynamics, with the students competing in a water-related challenge.
The challenge asked teams to consider "what might become possible when we understand what happens to our water" and figure out a way to improve the way people find, transport, use or dispose of water.
Teams who competed came from all over the region including Bandera, Batesville, Del Rio, Helotes, JBSA Lackland, Kerrville, Laredo, San Antonio and Uvalde.
Students in the tournament ranged from fourth to eighth grade. The highlight of the show was the robot games.
Students programmed autonomous robots, which were set loose on a course with a series of different objectives to accomplish.
"It was great to see all the enthusiasm from the kids, parents, and teachers," said Cheryl Sanchez, tournament director. "The competition allowed students to exercise their minds, work as teams and problem solve."
Teams advancing to the regional championship were the Predatechs, Harmony School of Innovation; AmazonianBots, San Felipe Memorial Middle School; Alkek Achievers and Brilliant Bulldogs, Alkek Elementary School; Botjago, Kerrville; Water Warriors, San Felipe Memorial Middle School and the RoboKnights of St. Augustine High School.