Congratulations to the Waterloo STEAM Elementary’s robotics team which this past weekend qualified as one of only seven teams to advance to the First Lego League State Tournament to be held December 12 at Jefferson High School.  The team competed last Saturday (Nov. 21) in the FLL Regional Qualifying Meet at Monroe High School. .

                Thirty-one teams from around Southeast Michigan competed and only seven advanced.  In addition, the Waterloo team received the “Inspiration” Award which is given to the team that is empowered by the FLL experience and displays extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit.   David Hogan, the team’s mentor who is a high school member of the Monroe-based Team Virus robotics team won the Mentor of the Year Award.  He was nominated by the seven-member Watrerloo team for his hard work and commitment to the team. 

                The members of the state-tournament-bound  Waterloo STEAM robotics team are Mason Dykes, Dylan Evans, Seth Kimberlin, Mackenzie Mielke, Raelynn Runyon, Brianna Stubleski, and Kyle Thacker, all of whom are fifth- and sixth-graders.  Team coaches are Laura Demarco and Waterloo’s robotics teacher, Kyle Reed.   

                The team competed in robot design, robot performance, core values, and a research project which they presented to a panel of judges.