Help wanted! Recently, South Park Elementary has broken into a 2nd First Lego League Team, and they’re now looking for coaching/mentor assistance. 

For context, First Lego League (FLL for short) is a program designed to grow youths in STEM learning and experiences. There are three different sections to FLL: Discover, Explore, and Challenge. Discovery and Exploration speak for themselves; they bring younger kids (4-6 and 6-10, respectively) into the world of robotics, both teaching them the bottom basics and helping them to broaden their horizons. The Challenge section, finally, is the competitive section. Children ages 9-16 can compete in challenges in various locations, and, for reference, the Bowmar Builders were allowed to compete in the state-level competition earlier this year after winning a local competition. Furthermore, the Bovina Braniacs competed in the FIRST World Championships just last year—and, fun fact, they were the first team in the Vicksburg area to do so! In short, coaches or mentors willing to help these young, potential-filled children grow in their robotics journey are welcome.

For the community, this is honestly wonderful news. Recently, we’ve noticed a growth in robotics throughout the community, after fading out a bit for a period of time. Now, it’s beginning to blossom again, like a flower blooming in spring after it wilts away in the winter. Through this creation of a new team, the robotics community in Vicksburg can grow even more, and hopefully reach new people as well…but first, they need coaches and mentors.

For more info on becoming a FLL mentor/coach contact Ms. Tracy Gordon at tracy.h.gordon@usace.army.mil or (601) 634-5376.

Photos by FIRST Inspires/Argenis Apolinario Photography