MLGW and TVA host robotics showcase for area students

Students from Shelby County and surrounding areas will display their robotic constructions on Oct. 6 from 9 – 10:45 a.m. at the MLGW Administration Building, 220 S. Main St. in Memphis.

The event is sponsored by MLGW’s Junior Engineer/Professional Engineer (JEPE) program and TVA, which are partnering together to promote STEM education and involvement among the next generation of public power professionals.

Participating teams will unleash their creations to walk, crawl, carry loads or throw objects around the MLGW building lobby. Students and their teachers or sponsors will be available to answer questions about their contraptions.
Nine teams will be participating in the event:

• St. Benedict at Auburndale High School – BEST Robotics Team

• Cloud 901 – High School Community – FIRST Robotics Competition Team

• White Station High School – FIRST Robotics Competition Team

• Bartlett High School – VEX Team

• Springdale Elementary School – Cubelets

• St. Francis of Assisis – First Lego League

• Havenview Middle School – First Lego League and Memphis Middle School Robotics Competition

• Millington Middle School – VEX IQ Team

• Southwind High School – VEX Team

After the exhibition, students will attend a lunch and a “Girl Power” networking event. Women in the engineering field will talk to the students about working in the STEM world. The session is intended to encourage girls to explore STEM careers and help boys understand the value of a diverse professional environment.

BEST Robotics: “BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is just not another robotics competition.  It perfectly incorporates real world business acumen and the arts into STEM. Kids will learn invaluable skills such as creative thinking, time management, communication, leadership, and teamwork.  These are essential for today’s ever changing environment.”

FIRST Robotics: “FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) inspires young people's interest and participation in science and technology through innovative programs. FIRST is more than Robots.”

VEX: “The VEX family of competitions, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, is the largest and fastest growing elementary, middle school, high school, and college robotics program globally with more than 18,000 teams from 40 countries playing in over 1,400 tournaments worldwide.”

First LEGO League: “First LEGO League is an international competition for elementary and middle school students. It inspires tomorrow’s innovators to practice imaginative thinking and teamwork for infinite possibilities within STEM.”