The 2009 Kentucky FIRST LEGO League State Robotics Championship on Saturday, January 9, 2010 was a wonderful success. There were 36 teams with about 260 participants competing and having fun. The results with judge comments were as follows:

Champion's Award
1st Place / Overall Champion: “RoboCats Gold” from Whitefield Academy in Louisville, KY
Team Members: Matt Clements, Paul Goodyear, Oakley Higgins, Christian Miller, and Christopher Vogel
Coaches: Drew Higgins and Stanley Miller
Judge Comment: “RoboCats Gold realized there was a scoring mistake in the Robot Performance competition and were willing to have their score reduced even if it meant they might move down in ranking. They placed highly in all four competition areas and exemplified FLL’s core value of Gracious Professionalism. Congratulations Robocats Gold!”

2nd Place: “Cruisin Cardinals” from Grant’s Lick Elementary School in Alexandria, KY
Team Members: Sarah Begley, Noah Brueggen, Jacob Finerty, Bryan Holden, Emma Owen, Jared Wagel, Lydia Wolf, and Sidney Youtsey
Coaches: Fred Strange and Niki Owen
Judge Comment: “There were so many positive comments on this team, it was hard to pull something out. Their teamwork and research were exceptional. They also had an innovative design for their robot and terrific performance.”

Judge's Award
1st Place: “WhaCHOOmakalitz” from North Marshall Middle School in Calvert City, KY
Team Members: James Ambler, Amber Crawford, Ryan Livesay, Emily Lee, Conner Morgan, Adam Padgett, and Noah Cox
Coaches: Bill Kunnecke and Brian Collier
Judge Comment: “They showed a great understanding of using looping within programs. They also displayed a lot of innovation in the design of their robot by having a dual mode arm for travel and retrieval and used skids to cross the dynometer obstacle”

2nd Place: “Piece Makers” from Heritage Christian Academy in Owensboro, KY
Team Members: Carter McDaniel, Georgie Sook, Zan McClellan, and Kennedy Jones.
Coaches: Tim McDaniel and Tim Hoak
Judge Comment: “Scoring well in three categories, this teams fast adaptability and positive attitude stood out with the judges. They took a risk, rebuilt their robot midseason, and it paid off.”

Project (Research) Award
1st Place: “Techno Birds” from Reiley Elementary School in Alexandria, KY
Team Members: Zach Bentke, Brad Geiman, Sam Kaiser, Samantha Hamilton, Jordan Moore, Nick Padin, Nolan Padin, Kate Quinn, Mark Welch, and Gabby Witt.
Coaches: Doug Geiman and Chris Geiman
Judge Comment: “The students had a full working model of the actual concept and showed total understanding of the problem and solution. The presentation was entertaining and informative.”

2nd Place: “Transformers” from North Marshall Middle School in Calvert City, KY
Team Members: Josh Collins, Robert Fitzgerald, Steven Maness, Taylor Stevens, Wally Schmidt, Grant Miller, Logan Coursey, Valerie Rowe, and Nate Dolbee
Coaches: Andy Miller, Kurt Schmidt, and Aaron Melton
Judge Comment: “The solution was relayed to the general population through a blog, a webpage, radio, politicians, newspapers, and TV. The presentation was clear and concise as well as interesting.”

Teamwork Award
1st Place: “Meyzeek Robo Bears 2.0” from Meyzeek Middle School in Louisville, KY
Team Members: Choong-Won Jin, Kyle Poole, Ashish Cunnapuzha, Jacob Boeschel, Kevin Jacob, Harsh Desai, Matthew Moermond, and Josh Svoboda
Coaches: Jan Moermond and Alan Boeschel
Judge comment: “A strong team with impressive communication skills that worked well under pressure with the helium stick challenge. They show respect for one another and demonstrated gracious professionalism by mentoring another team.”

2nd Place: “The Big O’ Bots” ” from Neighborhood Group/Homeschool Team in Owensboro, KY
Team Members: Mary Strobel, Johnny Clayton, Will Clayton, Elizabeth Clayton, Elizabeth Krampe, and Nathaniel Krampe
Coaches: Michelle Clayton and Kelsey Strobel
Judge Comment: “This group had clearly defined roles, yet cooperated smoothly. Their interaction with their community, the Owensboro Police, and News 25 made them stand apart.”

Robot Performance Award
1st Place : "Robocats Gold" from Whitefield Academy in Louisville, KY
Team Members: Matt Clements, Paul Goodyear, Oakley Higgins, Christian Miller, and Chris Vogel
Coaches: Drew Higgins and Stanley Miller

2nd Place: “LEGO Launchers” from Homeschool Group in Frankfort, KY
Team Members: Tucker Phelps, Parker Phelps, Neal Wilkins, Corbin Farley, and Devin Farley
Coaches: Jennifer Phelps, Cheri Farley, and Angela Wilkins

Robot Design/Technical Award
1st Place : “B60X” from Neighborhood Group in Calhoun, KY
Team Members: Zack Evans, Dustin Evans, Cody Evans, Brandon Evans, and Jacob Underwood
Coaches: Margaret Underwood and Mark Underwood
Judge Comment: “This team made great use of sensors by using three different types. They had a very good arm design that used an equal angle pivot motion and had both travel and retrieval modes. They also had a very sturdy, three wheel tread design.”

2nd Place: “LEGO Barbarians” ” from Russell Middle School/Greenup 4-H in Greenup, KY
Team Members: Dylan Cox, Michael Neston, Alison Aldridge, Lane McKenzie, Tanner Sexton, Taylor Hsieh, Rachel Howard, Anna Reneau, and Samantha Spence
Coaches: Steven Branim and Jim Reneau
Judge Comment: “This team made excellent use of sensors. They displayed great programming skills, and were very well prepared.”

The WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering wishes to thank the volunteers for their tireless efforts. Below is a listing of the many people who helped to make 2009 Kentucky FIRST LEGO League possible.

JUDGES
DR. MARTHA DAY, Project Judge, Assistant Professor in School of Teacher Education, WKU
DR. BLAINE FERRELL, Project Judge, Dean, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, WKU
DR. BOB WOODWARD, Project Judge, Chiropractor, Woodward Chiropractic
DR. RACHEL CAMPBELL, Project Judge, Observatory Ed. Scientist, WKU
DAVE SLONIM, Project Judge, Retired VP of Aircraft Line Maintenance, Federal Express
JILL BROWN, Project Judge, Instructor, Geography, Liberal Arts & Sciences Div., WKU
DEMETRIO ZOURARAKIS PH.D., Project Judge, Remote Sensing/GIS Analyst, Division of Geographic Information, Commonwealth Office of Technology
JON VILLINES, Project Judge, Assistant Manager, Rite Aid

KEITH LANCASTER, Tech Judge, Systems Administrator- WKU Health Services
DR. KEVIN SCHMALTZ, Tech Judge, Associate Professor of Engineering, WKU
CONNIE KEELING, Tech Judge, Broadcast Engineer, University of Southern Indiana
DR. JAMES GARY, Tech Judge, Associate Professor of Computer Science, WKU
H. TERRY LEEPER, Tech Judge, Department Head for Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences, WKU
DR. GREG ARBUCKLE, Tech Judge, Assistant Professor, WKU
DR. PETER HAMBURGER, Tech Judge, Department Head for Mathematics and Computer Science, WKU
CHRIS MOORE, Tech Judge, Staff Engineer—Department of Engineering, WKU

TRACY INMAN, Teamwork Judge, Associate Director for the Center for Gifted Studies, WKU
CAROLYN HAGAMAN, Teamwork Judge, Counselor/Coordinator Student Support Services, WKU
BARBARA JOHNSTON, Teamwork Judge, Office of Enrollment Services, Bowling Green Community College of WKU
JOELENE MARTIN, Teamwork Judge, Middle School Science Teacher, Drakes Creek Middle School
ANGIE WOODWARD, Teamwork Judge, Workforce Development Liaison, Elizabethtown Community and Tech College
SONDRA JOHNSON, Teamwork Judge, IT Consultant for Etown, Radcliff & Ft. Knox, WKU
MATTHEW NEE, Teamwork Judge, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, WKU
JEREMY MADDOX, Teamwork Judge, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, WKU

REFEREES
JOSEPH HOWARD, Referee, Research Assistant, Applied Physics Institute
RALPH IRWIN, Referee, Interactive Video Course Coordinator, WKU Engineering Department
JERRY WILSON, Referee, Senior Technical Services Representative, HeathCo, LLC.
JEFF RIVERA, Referee, Assistant Professor, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
JOHN YONTS, Referee, Loan Officer, U.S. Bank
JENNIFER HOHN, Referee, WKU Academic Support, WKU
MEGAN LAVERY, Referee, Licensed Massage Therapist, Megan Lavery, LMT
DANA PATTERSON, Referee, Preschool Learning Center, Presbyterian Church

ARENA and PIT AREA WORKERS
SPENSER NOFFSINGER, Scorekeeper
JESSIKA HILL, Scorekeeper
BRUCE KESSLER, Team Queuer, Award Presenter
ANGEL HILL, Timekeeper
SUZANNE VAN ARSDALL, Timekeeper
EVAN KESSLER, Field Attendant
TODD KESSLER, Field Attendant
ZACH LANCASTER, Field Attendant
BRENT DICKERSON, Field Attendant
JAKE INMAN, Field Attendant
PARAS VORA, Field Attendant
TEJAS SANGOI, Field Attendant
ALEXANDER GELDERMAN, Runner
DYLAN GELDERMAN, Runner
ZACH INMAN, Runner
NATHANIEL VOGLER, Runner
ALEX PATTERSON, Field Attendant
JERRY BARNABY, Technical support/Camera Switcher
CELIA WHELAN, Team Queuer
JANE OLMSTEAD, Team Queuer
TROY COLEMAN, Team Queuer
KEVIN ANDREW, Pit Runner
SYDNEY COMBS, Pit Runner
KIA ALLEN, Pit Runner
KERRY TURNER, Pit Runner
BRANDON KERR, Pit Runner
MELANIE HUNT, Pit Announcer
MAGGIE MAHAN, Pit Announcer
ED KINTZEL, Practice Table Manager (afternoon)
CLAIRE RINEHART, Practice Table Manager (morning)
KARLA ANDREW, Info Table Volunteer
SUELLYN LATHROP, Registration/Info Table Volunteer
MADELINE BUHR, Registration/Info Table Volunteer
BOBBY LINDSEY, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
JOHN DEATON, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
DAVID MCCHESNEY, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
DIANA GIRALDO, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
JOSH JACKSON, Crowd/Traffic Control and Security
HOLLY MITCHELL, Load-In/Load-out
MELANIE HUNT, Load-In/Load-out
JERRY BARNABY, Load-In/Load-out
DON LOIACANO, Load-In/Load-out
MIKE YOUNG, Load-In
KIMIKO COLLINS, Judge Assistant
SARAH WARD, Judge Assistant
EVIE PIERCE, Judge Assistant
ASHTON FIELDS, Judge Assistant
MICHAEL STARLING, Judge Assistant

PLANNING COMMITTEE
JOHN INMAN, Event Manager, Science Outreach Coordinator, WKU
SHAVONNA SMITH, Assistant Event Manager, Research Coordinator for ARTP, WKU
KAREN LONG, Assistant Event Manager, Team and Materials Coordinator, Coordinator of SkyTeach, WKU
MELISSA SCHULTZ, Volunteer Coordinator, Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, Gatton Academy—WKU
DR. LES PESTERFIELD, Judge Advisor, Professor of Chemistry, WKU
ALICIA MCDANIEL, Assistant Judge Advisor, Chemical Supplies Tech, WKU
CHRIS PATTERSON, Head Referee, Pastor, St. James United Methodist Church
RACHEL MANNING, Technical Director, Assistant Director of Campus and Community Events, WKU
KYLE THOMPSON, Tournament Assistant, Graduate Teaching Assistant in Geography, WKU
LANCE MORRIS, Tournament Assistant & Pit Manager, GIS Analyst/Programmer, City of Owensboro, KY
HARPER LEE, Tournament Emcee, Coordinator Technology and Communications for Center for Gifted Studies, WKU

Our sympathies and prayers go out to the members of the Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science robotics team, The Pirates of the Pythagorean, and their families.

We extend our condolences to the family of Vikas Parikh who lost his life in the crash. We know that Vikas, a 17-year-old honor student who was described as “the best and brightest” and “a truly great kid”, will be greatly missed by his family, friends and classmates.

We wish the communities of Hartford and Rocky Hill, and those injured in the accident, our best as they begin the process of healing after this tragedy.

Date: Saturday, 1/9/2010
Location: Diddle Arena, WKU, Bowling Green, KY
Coordinator: John Inman (john.inman@wku.edu)

Click here for the 2009 Team Packet (Includes Directions and Accommodations)

Basic Schedule (CST):
  8:00 -  8:30 Team Arrival and Registration
  8:30 -  9:00 Coaches Meeting
  9:15 -  9:45 Opening Ceremony (Diddle Arena)
10:00 -  3:30 Competition Activities
  3:30 -  5:15 Judges Deliberations / Entertainment in Diddle
             5:00 Closing Ceremony
             5:45 Clean Up / Load Out
Note:
12:00 -12:45 Lunch Break
  1:00 -  3:00 JFLL Expo