Rookie Robotics Team from Livingston Advances to FLL State Championship

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Five Livingston Public Schools students—including Mt. Pleasant Middle School sixth-graders Rian Thomas, Siri Patil Rishi Shah and Preethi Sivaraju, and Collins Elementary School fifth-grader Rayna Thomas —recently participated in their first-ever FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition.

The FLL, a global robotics community, is a three-division program that aims to inspire young people to experiment and grow their critical thinking. This includes coding, design skills through hands-on learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). FLL is one of three robotics programs that are separated by grade, the other two being the First Tech Challenge and the First Robotics Competition competitions sponsored by FIRST. 

The rookie team, called “Super 5,” competed against more than 40 teams across New Jersey to advance onto the state championship, which is scheduled for later this year. Super 5 was also named the “Best Performing Rookie Team” and “Rising Star Team” in the recent competition. Teams competing in FLL are judged and scored in three categories, including robotics, core values and teamwork, and a “STEM Innovation” project.

Although these competitions are traditionally hosted in person, the FLL has recently transitioned to virtual events as a result of the pandemic. (Click the link for more details)