Local students shine in FIRST LEGO League championships (photos)

This year’s theme was hydrodynamics

Members of The Chundayz team from Portsmouth Middle School watch carefully as their robot moves through the course. From left are Gabe Holmes, Jay Costa, Michael Fahey, Laura Boyle (in back) and Kadden Grant.

Julie Furtado

Alejandro Rivera and Stephen Quinn, members of Team Reign from St. Philomena School, make adjustments to their robot during round one.

Julie Furtado

Emily DeFreitas and George St. Peter of St. Philomena's Team Reign ready their robot during the FIRST LEGO League State Championship.

Kaitlyn Dicicc

The Chundayz, from Portsmouth Middle School, won the Gracious Professionalism Award for modeling the FIRST LEGO League core values during the season and at the tournament.

Rhode Island Students of the Future

Members of St. Philomena’s Team Reign and Portsmouth Middle School’s The Chundayz practice together between rounds.

Julie Furtado

Kadden Grant (center) and Jeff Dylan of The Chundayz watch as a judge tallies their score.

Julie Furtado

Jeff Dylan uses programming software to make adjustments to The Chundayz’ robot between rounds.

Julie Furtado

Jay Costa and Gabe Holmes of The Chundayz prepare their robot for round two.

Julie Furtado

Jay Costa gives a thumbs-up to judges to show that he and Gabe Holmes (right) of The Chundayz are ready to begin the round.

Julie Furtado

Kadden Grant (left) looks on while Jeff Dylan and Jay Costa swap attachments during competition. They were members of the Portsmouth Middle School team, The Chundayz.

Julie Furtado

Portsmouth Middle School seventh-graders (from left) Kadden Grant, Elvin Estrella and Jay Costa of The Chundayz watch as their robot navigates the course.

Julie Furtado

Elvin Estrella and Jay Costa of The Chundayz perform test runs with their robot in between rounds.

Julie Furtado

Jeff Dylan (left), Michael Fahey and Kadden Grant of The Chundayz make adjustments to their robot after round one.

Julie Furtado

EastBayRI.com · Sunday, January 14, 2018 12:46 pm

BRISTOL — Several robotics teams from our area made their mark at the 2018 Rhode Island FIRST LEGO League championships at Roger Williams University on Saturday.

This year’s theme was hydrodynamics, and awards were presented to the following local teams:

• Core Values/Gracious Professionalism: The Chundayz, Portsmouth Middle School

• Core Values/Teamwork: S.M.A.R.T., St. Mary Academy Bay View, Riverside

• Robot/Strategy and Innovation: 7 Big Water, Kickemuit School, Warren

• 2nd Place Champion's Award: The Savage Snowflakes, Aquidneck Island 4H Robotics (The Savage Snowflakes have been invited to compete in the Razorback Invitational at the University of Arkansas in May.)

• Global Innovation Award and Project/Innovation Award: Architectonas, All Saints STEAM Academy, Middletown

The Jamestown Robowolves won the Champion's Award and also came in first place in robot performance. The team will participate in the FIRST World Festival in Detroit in April, where they will compete alongside teams from 80 countries.

They also received the $20,000 Roger Williams University scholarships ($5,000, renewable for four years, for each student on the team).

Local teams

Here are the local teams that competed Saturday:

Portsmouth

• Team Reign, St. Philomena School

• The Chundayz, Portsmouth Middle School

Warren

• 7 Big Water, Kickemuit Middle School

• Bright Blue Builders, Neighborhood Team, Warren & Cranston

Bristol

The Octonauts, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

East Providence

• Intellibots, St. Mary Academy Bay View

• Marvelous Manatees, Edward R. Martin Middle School

• S.M.A.R.T, St. Mary Academy - Bay View

• S.M.A.R.T. 2.0, St. Mary Academy - Bay View

Aquidneck Island

• SS Hydrobots, Aquidneck Island Robotics 4-H

• Savage Snowflakes, Aquidneck Island Robotics 4-H Club

Keywords

FIRST LEGO League, robotics, Roger Williams University