By Sue-Ann Wayow
APPROXIMATELY 200 participants, from various schools in Trinidad and Tobago took part in the FIRST LEGO League National Tournament.
The prize-giving ceremony for the recent tournament was held at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva.
Awardees were presented with over $125,000 in prizes for awards which included Core Values, Robot Design and Innovation Project.
The event was hosted by the National Institute of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (NIHERST) and Shell Trinidad & Tobago Limited (Shell).
The FIRST LEGO League is a global programme with a presence in 80 countries. The initiative which utilises theme-based challenges to engage students in research, problem-solving, and engineering, impresses its core values of the contribution of others, learning, and community involvement to its competitors, a release from NIHERST stated on Thursday.
At the prize-giving ceremony, NIHERST Governor Sharon Baboolal said, “We firmly believe that initiatives like the First Lego League are instrumental in nurturing young talent and enabling them to explore their potential.”
She told participants, “Our greatest investment is in you. The ones who can make a difference in our communities and chart a course that can transform our society to be admired by generations to come. We stand firm in our mandate to foster a culture of scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and innovative development, but without the core asset, of our youth, none of these will be possible.”
Shell T&T Ltd General Manager- Business Transformation, Anesha Sadar also said that Shell was proud to be the platinum sponsor of the First Lego League.
She said the league challenged current thinking to find creative solutions to the problems faced today as a society.
“The First Lego League is one of the many avenues that provides the support young people need to generate ideas that will pave the way to a sustainable future” Sadar said.
Also speaking was the Miistry of Education Curriculum Coordinator Tricia Gilkes.
She said, “The FIRST LEGO League programme is always a welcomed educational resource and solution for 21st century teaching and hands-on learning. This initiative is an exciting way that serves to advance not only the Ministry’s drive toward Digital Transformation but that of Trinidad and Tobago and its Sustainable Development Vision: 2030.’
The following teams were announced as the top winners in their respective categories: –
- Champion’s Award – Trinity College East
- Robot Performance Awards (1st) – Trinity College East
- Robot Performance Awards (2nd) – Maple Leaf International College
- Core Values Award – Chaguanas North Secondary School
- Robot Design Award – Presentation College, Chaguanas
- Innovation Project Award – Parvati Girls’ Hindu College
- Motivate Award – Brainstormers
- Rising All-Star Award – Holy Name Convent
- Breakthrough Award – Naparima College
- Engineering Excellence Award- Maple Leaf International College In their final remarks, NIHERST also thanked its other sponsors Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd., Massy Foundation, Republic Bank Ltd, Radio Shack, and Sunshine Snacks-Zoomers.
