After weeks of preparation, Prodell Middle School’s robotics club participated in their first competition at the FIRST Lego League Long Island Challenge on Jan. 12 at Great Hollow Middle School in Smithtown.

This year’s theme was focused on oceanography and the challenges faced by oceanographers, marine biologists and other ocean professionals. There are 15 missions that the students worked to complete on the program field.

Guided by technology teacher Mr. David Driscoll, the students programmed the Lego robots to do specific tasks on a game board. They used block coding, LEGO technology and creative thinking to design, build and program the robots to complete the missions.

“As a first experience to competing, the students did well working together and making improvements to their robot program to get more points,” Shoreham-Wading River School District’s Director of STEM Dr. Joseph Paolicelli said.

Out of 13 teams competing, Prodell’s two teams scored 6th and 11th.

Congratulations!