CEF Backs First Lego League

by The Editors on September 21, 2009

FirstlegoleagueThanks to a grant from our favorite Carlsbadistan-based life sciences company, Life Technologies, the Carlsbad Education Foundation is going to make sure all 14 schools in the district are able to compete in the First Lego League International Robotics Challenge.

By partnering with the Life Technologies Foundation, CEF is able to sponsor one team per school, including all registration fees, two robots, related supplies, training and resource materials. . . . “The Carlsbad Educational Foundation is thrilled to partner with Life Technologies to bring the exciting FIRST LEGO League program to all the schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District,” said Valin Brown, CEO of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. “This highly innovative and forward-thinking program is the latest example of how CEF continually seeks ways to bridge the gap between classroom and real-world experiences. To that end, FIRST LEGO League represents an outstanding opportunity for us to promote educational excellence while inspiring young people to build science, engineering and technology skills.”

Now, rather than spending most of their time raising money, the robot heads in the Carlsbad Unified School District will be able to focus on building robots and bringing home a world title. For more info, follow the jump.
Carlsbad Educational Foundation Announces District-Wide Support for FIRST LEGO League Robotics Teams

Local Company Life Technologies Provides Grant to Fund Participation in International Robotics Challenge at Every School in Carlsbad Unified School District

Carlsbad, CA – Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), a non-profit organization devoted to developing and launching educational and enrichment programs for more than 10,000 Carlsbad students, is proud to announce support for FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) at all 14 schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District during the 2009-2010 school year. The FLL program is an international program designed to engage students, ages 9 to 14 and 14 to 18, in hands-on, inquiry-based scientific learning and problem-solving.

This program, which reinforces one of CEF’s overarching goals to enrich education through increased hands-on science, is being made possible by a generous grant from the Life Technologies™ Foundation. Carlsbad-based Life Technologies is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. By partnering with the Life Technologies Foundation, CEF is able to sponsor one team per school, including all registration fees, two robots, related supplies, training and resource materials.

“The Carlsbad Educational Foundation is thrilled to partner with Life Technologies to bring the exciting FIRST LEGO League program to all the schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District,” said Valin Brown, CEO of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. “This highly innovative and forward-thinking program is the latest example of how CEF continually seeks ways to bridge the gap between classroom and real-world experiences. To that end, FIRST LEGO League represents an outstanding opportunity for us to promote educational excellence while inspiring young people to build science, engineering and technology skills.”

Each Carlsbad team also will have the opportunity to compete in the 2009 international challenge, which is called “Smart Move.” During the project phase, each team identifies a problem with the way people, animals, information or things travel in their community and then creates an innovative solution. During the robot part of the challenge, each team applies robotics, sensor technology and fresh thinking to confront some of today’s transportation, safety and efficiency problems. The challenge culminates in local, qualifying and state tournaments in which teams present their research projects while their robots compete for a variety of awards.

“Life Technologies Foundation is very pleased to support this excellent program, which offers Carlsbad students an opportunity to think like scientists and engineers as they tackle tough, real-world problems,” said Amanda Clardy, chief marketing officer for Life Technologies and a Life Technologies Foundation Board member. “The Foundation is dedicated to advancing scientific education among today’s youth, and programs such as FIRST LEGO League are an innovative way to engage our children in the sciences while preparing them for successful careers in the future.”

In 2008, Carlsbad’s Kelly Elementary School’s “Team Sonic” ranked sixth in the Qualifying Tournament for the international challenge, “Climate Connections – Building A Global Game Plan.” The Kelly team was recognized for their scientific research and recommended solution for wildfire ash removal. Additionally, Team Sonic was awarded the Teamwork Trophy for embodying the FLL’s values, including gracious professionalism.

Currently in its 11th year, FIRST LEGO League anticipates 14,600 teams in more than 50 countries competing in hundreds of qualifying events and championship tournaments. Teams also may have the opportunity to participate in the FIRST LEGO League World Festival, to be held April 15-17, 2010 in Atlanta. FIRST founder Dean Kamen, an entrepreneur who invented the Segway transportation system, teamed with Kjeld Kirk Kristiensen, first deputy chairman of the board of directors of The LEGO Group, to create the program as a way to engage children in playful and meaningful learning while helping them discover the fun in science and technology.

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