MN Star Students: First-Year Robotics Team

OAKDALE, MN — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from robotics coach Sarah Gerber who nominated Aaron, Natalie, Alex, Sam, Piper, and Daira.

Know an outstanding student? Nominate them here.

Star local student names

Aaron, Natalie, Alex, Sam, Piper, and Daira (grades 5th-8th)

Star local student’s home state:

Minnesota.

How do you know the star local student?

Coach of the students.

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

These six students are a first-year robotics team through FIRST Lego League Challenge at Gethsemane Lutheran School.

The team exceeded their season goals by not only advancing to the Minnesota State Championship but also receiving a special invitation to the Western Edge Open Invitational in Long Beach California where we will have the chance to compete with 80 teams from around the world.

The team won the “Core Values” award at their Regional competition, the "Innovation Project Model" award at the State Championships, and placed 11th for their robot performance at the State Championships.

In their rookie season, they were in the top 15 percent of all FLL Challenge teams in Minnesota!

During the season, the students designed, built, and programmed a robot that competes on a game table to score points by completing various missions. The students also completed and presented an innovation project where they identified a real-world problem and developed a solution.

Their research was focused on tidal turbines, an emerging renewable energy resource, and the potential for these turbines to negatively impact wildlife in oceans. The team developed a working prototype of their solution, which has a sensor that detects animals and triggers the turbine motors to brake. The braking of the turbine prevents animals from colliding with the spinning blades.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

These star students span four grades and are comprised of both girls and boys, including students with special needs, and they all bring a variety of different skill sets to the team.

They have learned core values through this program that have enabled them to excel in teamwork and learn how to work through challenging situations in a manner that includes everyone's viewpoints.

They have worked incredibly hard all season meeting twice a week since August to continually improve all season.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Aaron, Natalie, Alex, Sam, Piper, and Daira!

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Know an outstanding student? Nominate them here.