BRISTOL — The annual Rhode Island Students of the Future First LEGO League (FLL) Rhode Island State Championship event took place at Roger Williams University on January 11, including entries from city-based schools.

A total of 36 teams advanced to the 2020 championship competition following four qualifying tournaments held late last fall, two of which at Martin Middle School and The Gordon School, took place in East Providence. In order to advance to the state championship, teams competed in all three judged areas of FLL: Robot Game, Project and Core Values.

Local teams won two awards at states: Riverside Middle School’s “Magnetech” was second in Robot Performance to “Planet Robotics,” a community-based entry from nearby North Attleboro, Mass., and the St. Mary Academy-Bay View team “S.M.A.R.T.” received the Core Values Inspiration Award. Two teams from Martin Middle School, “C.O.T.C” and “The Pedestrians,” also competed, but did not medal.

RMS “Magnetech” team members included: Will Laroche, Tiana Brierly, Nathan Tavares, Aidan LombRMS “Magnetech” team members included: Will Laroche, Tiana Brierly, Nathan Tavares, Aidan Lombardo and Jayden Carlson; teachers/coaches John Marsula and Donna Hallal. The Bay View “S.M.A.R.T.” team included Tess Briden, of Rumford, Claire Chace, Jillian Nguyen, Ella Rwenzo and Hannah Wiczek. Teacher/coach was Valerie Briden, Middle and Upper School computer science faculty member.
ardo and Jayden Carlson; teacher/coach John Marsula.

The 19th annual event is held yearly to promote greater participation by students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum.

The complete list of 2020 award winners: 1st Place Champions Award, 1st place Robot Performance, FIRST Global Innovation Award: Planet Robotics FLL team​, community team, North Attleboro; 2nd Place Champions Award: AIR Strike Omega, Aquidneck Island Robotics​, Newport; Rising Star: City Girls, Ella Risk School​, Central Falls; Project Research: Aquidneck Island Robotics, Newport; Project Innovative Solution: Robo Mariners, Rocky Hill Country Day School​, East Greenwich; Project Presentation: Cosmic Strike, Aquidneck Island Robotics, Newport; Robot Mechanical Design: Elements, Community Team, Barrington; Robot Programming Award: Team Green, Lincoln School​, Providence; Robot Strategy & Innovation: Circuit Breakers, Aquidneck Island Robotics, Newport; Robot Performance, 1st place Planet Robotics FLL team, Community Team, North Attleboro; Robot Performance, 2nd place Magnetech, Riverside Middle School​, East Providence; Core Values Inspiration: S.M.A.R.T., St. Mary Academy-Bay View​, Riverside; Core Values Teamwork: Street Lights Done Right, St. Philomena School, Portsmouth; Core Values Gracious Professionalism: St. Luke's Catholic School, Diocese of Providence​, Barrington