4-H youth dig into robotics during FIRST Lego League Championship

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Coliseum boomed with announcers’ voices as young competitors showcased their programming and problem‑solving mettle during the FIRST Lego League Challenge Championship and Robotics Expansion Event, held March 20–21.

More than 1,000 youth, coaches, families and volunteers filled the Cook Pavilion and Coliseum for the 17th annual championship, led by Nebraska 4‑H, part of Nebraska Extension. The event featured students in grades 4–8 who work in teams to solve robotics challenges using Lego Mindstorms technology.

Teams traveled from across Nebraska, as well as South Dakota and Iowa, to compete. In total, 108 teams representing 41 communities across 33 counties participated, with 683 youth taking part.

Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing

Teams set up their “pits” in the Cook Pavilion, where they displayed team colors, Innovation Challenge projects and their competing robots. During downtime in the competition, participants toured the UNL campus and attended hands‑on activities at Kiewit Hall, the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, Department of Biological Systems Engineering and Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. Industry partners hosted experience booths, giving students an opportunity to learn how robotics are used in a variety of fields.

Competition requirements included completing the Innovation Challenge and designing, building and programming a robot to complete tasks during a 2.5‑minute run.

This season’s Unearthed Innovation Project asked teams to identify a real‑world problem faced by archaeologists and propose a solution. Throughout the season, youth applied STEM skills and collaboration to explore archaeology‑inspired problems while also learning more about themselves and their communities.

One such team, the Panhandle Cookie Bytes from Scotts Bluff County, built a prototype of ARCHIE — the Autonomous Robotic Collaborator for Historical Investigation and Excavation — a compact robot designed to reach areas inaccessible to humans to gather artifacts or data. The team took home the overall championship trophy, for their robot build, match and Innovation Project scores.

Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing

The Norris Titan Engineers developed a wearable device aimed at helping archaeologists walk in perfectly straight lines during survey work. The idea grew out of conversations with local archaeologists who routinely traverse Nebraska’s plains.

“We got to talk to Dr. LuAnn Wandsnider (Husker archaeologist), and that’s when we decided that our walk‑straight technology would be a good idea,” said Daniel Seggerman, a Titan Engineer.

His teammate, Ava Vollmer, added that accuracy over long distances is especially critical in Nebraska archaeology. 

“They have to walk in perfectly straight lines when covering big, open fields, looking for remains or artifacts,” she said.

The Norris Titan Engineers won first place in the Innovation Project for their wearable walk-straight technology.

While the teams most look forward to the robot matches, the team score comes from the work done throughout the year. 

“When people think of Lego robotics, they’re thinking of the robot matches, but that’s only 25% of their whole score,” said Brandy Schulze, education engagement coordinator with Nebraska 4‑H. “The other 75% happens in the judging room, where teams are evaluated on their Innovation Project, robot design and teamwork.”

For many youth, the experience extended beyond the competition itself.

“We definitely learn a lot about each topic, but we also get to know each other better and make a lot of new friends,” Vollmer said.

“I learn something almost every single day with this group,” said McKinley Monaghan, also with the Titan Engineers. “Then, you get to hang out with other teams at state, and it just feels like a really good community.”

Andy Temeyer, a FIRST Lego League coach for St. Albert Catholic Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa, said his students were especially excited about this year’s championship.

“They gave up a significant part of their spring break to be here,” Temeyer said. “That’s a big commitment, and it shows how much this experience means to them.”

Schulze said the event couldn’t happen without the 200-plus volunteers who assist over two days or the sponsors who help fund the event. She also recognized campus staff who help coordinate the event, including from the Nebraska Unions, Parking and Transit and Campus Recreation, specifically Sally Pfeiffer, assistant director of facilities in Campus Rec.

 “She is the one who coordinates the space here,” Schulz said. “She is a phenomenal partner to work with and I appreciate her service.” 

Full results from the competition are available online.

Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing