Lake City Middle School FIRST Robotics #17873
The Nuclear Bananas
Lake City Middle School #17873
WHAT IS FIRST LEGO LEAGUE?
WHAT ARE THE FIRST Values?
Gracious Professionalism®
Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Distinguished Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism®" is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
Coopertition®
Coopertition® produces innovation. At FIRST, Coopertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. Coopertition is founded on the concept and a philosophy that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other even as they compete.
Coopertition involves learning from teammates. It is teaching teammates. It is learning from Mentors. And it is managing and being managed. Coopertition means competing always, but assisting and enabling others when you can.
Who are the nuclear bananas?
We started team Nuclear Bananas in the fall of 2015. Three of our team members have older siblings on the CHS FRC team #3556 Get Smart, while three other members were a part of the Get Smarties team from Summers Elementary School.
We competed in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) as both a Regional Qualifier and Regional Finalist Participant using what we learned in FLL. We won the overall FLL Project Award for the Robo Thrasher event in Orange Park.
FLL is a program designed for those who want to compete head-to-head, using Legos and a reusable robot kit. Our FLL team, the Nuclear Bananas, is responsible for designing, building, and programming our robot to complete against other FLL teams.
Each challenge is based on real world scientific problems to engage children in research, problem solving, and engineering. The cornerstone of the program is its Core Values, which emphasize friendly sportsmanship, learning and community involvement. Apply for our team fall 2016!
Jennifer Langston Saylor
A STEM teacher & FIRST Robotics Coach based in Lake City, Florida.
By Jennifer Langston Saylor