Event Photographer: Brad Boquet
Celebrating Young Innovators and STEM
Vermont Business Magazine On January 18, more than 50 GlobalFoundries (GF) volunteers hosted 38 FIRST®LEGO® League teams for the Vermont State Championship. Over 270 elementary school students and their coaches brought their LEGO robots and Innovation Projects to GF's Essex Junction location for a day of exciting competition and fun.
GlobalFoundries is the state program sponsor of FIRST® LEGO® League and the first-time host of the Vermont State Championship. This was also the inaugural event for GF Vermont’s newly refurbished common area and event space.
Event Master of Ceremonies, Kevin Cofelice, got the day started with Opening Ceremonies, where over 700 VIPs and guests heard from GF Vermont’s Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations Chris Gillman, Fab 9 Vice President and General Manager Ken McAvey, State Coordinator of FIRSTinVT Joe Chase, and a special keynote from Guy Shaffer, a FIRST alumnus and Equipment Engineer at GF Vermont.
Teams competed in three rounds of robot game matches and a series of judged presentations covering the team’s robot design and innovation project. In addition, participants were treated to demonstrations of FIRST Tech Challenge robots, FIRST Robotics Competition robots, and GF robots, including OMRON, SPOT and KUKA.
Chris Gillman, GF Vermont’s Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations and FIRSTinVT board member said, “The energy and passion on display by the students and GF volunteers at the event were incredible! The STEM and leadership skills the students develop through this program are exactly what we need for our future workforce, and it was amazing to open GF’s doors to the best and brightest students from around the state."
Mark Drapa, FIRSTinVT CEO (and GF employee) said, "The day ended with a constant stream of participants, mentors, and families sharing their appreciation for our awesome GF volunteers, saying that this was 'the best FIRST event we've ever had in Vermont.’ The smiles on students' faces told the story. There was so much positive energy at GF—it was an amazing day for everyone involved.”
Team “Mango Tango” from White River Junction, Vermont, took top honors and earned a berth to the FIRST Championship competition in Houston, Texas.
Team “Camel’s Hump Coders” from Huntington, Vermont, were runners up and earned a berth to the FIRST LEGO League Florida Sunshine Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida.
GF presented each of the top two teams with a $1,000 advancement grant.
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