Congratulations, Barboursville ROBOPIRATES

December 18, 2007

Barboursville Middle RoboPirates Win 1st Place

Congratulations to the Barboursville Middle School RoboPirates who won 1st Place for
Robotic Performance (388 points, 400 possible) and 2nd Place for Robot Design.
        The State's FIRST LEGO League tournament was held December 15, 2007 at the
Wheeling Jesuit University. There were 18 teams from around the state competing.
They were judged on Robot Performance, Teamwork, Technical Design, and the Research Project.
Also, congratulations to the Alchemists from Milton Middle School who won 1st Place forTeamwork.

Some of the school came to see the robot work

and hear about how the team did at the State tournament.

15 Dec. 2007 West Virginia FIRST LEGO League Robotics Tournament Results
 
Against All Odds Award - WV Team 10 - Gizmo Girls (YWCA-spnsored team,Wheeling)
Team Spirit Award - WV Team 8 - Kermit Frogs (Kermit)
FLL Values - Team 3 - Robo Geek Squad (Huntington)
Mentor Award - Team 9 - Robo Raiders (WJU-sponsored team, Wheeling)
Design Award 2nd Place - WV Team 13 - Barboursville Robo Pirates (Barboursville Middle School)
Design Award 1st Place - WV Team 12 - J-Ro (Vienna)
Project Award 2nd Place - WV Team 1 - Gizmo Guys (Morgantown)
Project Award 1st Place - WV Team 14  - General Robotics (Vienna)
Robot Table Performace Award - 2nd Place WV Team 6 - Roboteers (WVU Physic Dept.-sponsored team, Morgantown)
Robot Table Performance Award 1st Place WV Team 13 - Barboursville Robo Pirates (Barboursville)
Teamwork 2nd place - WV Team 5 - Organized Chaos (WJU-CET-sponsored team, Wheeling)
Teamwork 1st Place - WV Team 7 - Milton Middle School Alchemists (Milton)
State Champions - WV Team 6 - Roboteers (WVU Physics Dept.-sponsored team, Morgantown)
Team Members: Luke Scime, Adam Raese, Haley Tucker, Isaac Bender, Iain MacKay, Jeremy Hunter, Amelia Bieniek, Daniel Pan, Shannon Ballard, Tim Balvers; Coach Earl Scime; Asst. Coaches Mary Dumas and Phillip Tucker
Teams prepared for approximately three months for their three Power Puzzle interviews (Technical, Teamwork, and Research) and the best of three robot table rounds.  All team participants and their coaches and mentors earned the madallions they received!

The tournament was a success thanks to the contributions of many generous volunteers:
Head Referee: David Brooks, Kraton Corporation
Keynote Speaker: Robin Shoop, Carnegie Mellon University - National Robotics Engineering Center
Head Judge: Karen Burnett-Kurie, FIRST LEGO League Headquarters
FIRST Regional Director: Nicole Goldsmith
WVU Morgantown Students: Dan Brooks and Jimmy Smith
Carnegie Mellon University-National Robotics Engineering Center: Tim Freiz, Norm Kerman, and Robin Shoop
Community Volunteers: Bob and Hannah Boord, Jay Capron, Trish Hamm, and Linda Vidoni
Community Youth Volunteers: Tyler Cooey, Daniel Elerick, Zack Hamm, Madison and Nathan Keenan, Alex McKenzie, Kathleen Ott, Elizabeth Phillips, Caitlin Reasbeck, Billy Salvatori, Robert Wilson who spent several hours assembing the eight tournament field setups.
WJU Faculty and Staff:  Mary Ellen Cassidy, Jim Coffield, Meri Cummings (Tournament Director), Helen Faso, Joyce Fiorilli, Kathleen Frank, Meg Geroch, Dave Henderson, Chris Kreger, Lisa McFarland, Doug Moore, Sharon Morgan, Jane Neuenschwander, Debbie Reese, Laurie Ruberg, Chris Scott, Don Watson, Chuck Wood, Janis Worklan, and Letha Zook
WJU Student Volunteers:  Sarah Connors, Niccole Downing, Elizabeth and Stephanie Elias, Caroline Horacek, and Mary Beth Lewton

I'd like to acknowledge the WJU housekeeping, maintenance, security departments and Parkhurst Dining Services, for the many services provided before, during, and after the tournament.

A special thanks to the RoboRats FRC Team 1249 and FTC Team 55 and Career Center Critters for demonstrating their robots and sharing their table and models.  Thanks also to the RoboRaiders for lending us your table, mat, and models.  Your contributions are crucial to our tournament!

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, American Electric Power, and LEGO education, nor without all the time and efforts of the coaches and the team members.  Thank you all!

See you next year!
Meri  ;-)
2007 WV FLL Robotics Tournament Director