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East Islip’s LEGO Girls robotics team finished their impressive season by competing at the FIRST Lego League Challenge Invitational, held May 13 and 14 at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. This American Robotics Open Championship event showcases top robotics teams from across the United States competing by displaying their core values while achieving excellence and innovation in robot performance, robot design and an innovation project.

The LEGO Girls, a rookie team of fourth-grade John F. Kennedy Elementary School, students Jayne Elliott, Sonali Kamath and Antonia Rezza, wowed the judges with their project and robot presentations. The East Islip trio advanced to the Invitationals after finishing in the top five of 100 FLL Long Island Challenge teams this season in the 9-14 age bracket. Their season accomplishments include first place Robot Performance Award and Core Values Award wins at the Long Island qualifiers; a first place Engineering Excellence Award, Zebra Award (a special recognition from FLL referees) and invitation to the LSC Invitational Nationals at the Long Island Championships; and a team event trophy at the LSC Invitational.

An important part of the FIRST Lego League is the core value of impact. The LEGO Girls worked to impact their community by researching energy usage in their school and proposing ideas to make improvements. Those ideas we shared with their class, STEAM teacher and principal, and the team’s efforts have been recognized by Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ as well as the East Islip Board of Education.

“There are over 20,000 FLL Challenge teams in the U.S. and only about 1.5% of those teams have the opportunity to compete in post season tournaments, so this is quite an achievement for the LEGO Girls,” said team coaches Sunil and Vindhya Kamath. “The team had a fabulous rookie year and accomplished a lot. They are very proud of all that they have done this season.”

Date Added: 6/5/2023