WHO WE ARE
We're six girls with a lot in common . . . We're all eighth graders at the same middle school in a northwest suburb of Chicago, we're all in Girl Scouts and we all love the First® Lego® League (FLL) Robotics program!
Our team, The Moovers, originally got its start in 2009 through a grant that Motorola Solutions Foundation gave to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana to start ten FLL teams in hopes of fostering interest in girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) In the past, 80-85% of FLL participants were boys. By partnering, both Girl Scouts and Motorola hoped to expose young women to hands on engineering principles through FLL.
In our first year, we did quite well for a group of eight 9 year old girls. At our regional competition we won the Rookie Team Award and also took home the 1st place trophy for Research Project . . . Not bad for a group of feisty little girls to take home 2 of the six trophies awarded!! Our next year wasn't as fruitful . . . we didn't do very well at our regional competition, but we had a ton of fun anyways!
Then in December of 2011, 288 FLL teams competed in 18 regional competitions throughout Illinois. The Moovers competed in the 2011 Batavia regional tournament, where not only did we win 1st Place in the Research Project category, but we also placed in the top 3 teams in the region which advanced us to the State Championship Tournament.
In January of 2012, our team competed with 63 other teams at the State Tournament held in Arlington Heights, and took home the 1st Place Champions Award. We then went on to represent the state of Illinois at the FLL World Invitational Open Championship Tournament held in May, 2012, in Winter Haven, Florida. We competed with teams from all over the USA, as well as teams from other countries. We won the 1st place award for Teamwork!!
To add to this excitement, The Moovers represented the United States at the First® Lego® League Open European Championship Tournament held in June of 2012 in Mannheim, Germany. It was amazing to see and meet teams from all over the world!! We had a blast and took home the 1st place Inspiration Award!!
In 2013, we advanced to the state tournament and earned the 1st place Ambassadors Award . . . an award that acknowledges a team's outstanding effort in promoting STEM and the FLL program to others.
And finally, this year . . . our last year we are able to compete (we age out) . . . the team, once again, brought home the 1st place Champions Award at the 2014 State Championship!! We also earned the 3rd place trophy for "Table Performance" and were voted by the other teams at the tournament to receive the "Team Spirit" Award!! The team now heads to San Diego for the national tournament in May.
Our team, The Moovers, originally got its start in 2009 through a grant that Motorola Solutions Foundation gave to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana to start ten FLL teams in hopes of fostering interest in girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) In the past, 80-85% of FLL participants were boys. By partnering, both Girl Scouts and Motorola hoped to expose young women to hands on engineering principles through FLL.
In our first year, we did quite well for a group of eight 9 year old girls. At our regional competition we won the Rookie Team Award and also took home the 1st place trophy for Research Project . . . Not bad for a group of feisty little girls to take home 2 of the six trophies awarded!! Our next year wasn't as fruitful . . . we didn't do very well at our regional competition, but we had a ton of fun anyways!
Then in December of 2011, 288 FLL teams competed in 18 regional competitions throughout Illinois. The Moovers competed in the 2011 Batavia regional tournament, where not only did we win 1st Place in the Research Project category, but we also placed in the top 3 teams in the region which advanced us to the State Championship Tournament.
In January of 2012, our team competed with 63 other teams at the State Tournament held in Arlington Heights, and took home the 1st Place Champions Award. We then went on to represent the state of Illinois at the FLL World Invitational Open Championship Tournament held in May, 2012, in Winter Haven, Florida. We competed with teams from all over the USA, as well as teams from other countries. We won the 1st place award for Teamwork!!
To add to this excitement, The Moovers represented the United States at the First® Lego® League Open European Championship Tournament held in June of 2012 in Mannheim, Germany. It was amazing to see and meet teams from all over the world!! We had a blast and took home the 1st place Inspiration Award!!
In 2013, we advanced to the state tournament and earned the 1st place Ambassadors Award . . . an award that acknowledges a team's outstanding effort in promoting STEM and the FLL program to others.
And finally, this year . . . our last year we are able to compete (we age out) . . . the team, once again, brought home the 1st place Champions Award at the 2014 State Championship!! We also earned the 3rd place trophy for "Table Performance" and were voted by the other teams at the tournament to receive the "Team Spirit" Award!! The team now heads to San Diego for the national tournament in May.
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About the Team Members
Alexandra
Hi, I'm Alexandra. This is my third year in FLL Robotics and I am having so much fun! I have learned a lot from this experience. My favorite part about FLL Robotics is "everything" from building to technical to project. I have been able to take what I have learned and apply it into my everyday life. I've been playing the violin for 5 years. I enjoy horseback riding, singing and reading. In my free time, I listen to music, read, draw, play with my dog and hang out with friends.
Allison
Hey! I'm Allison and this is my 4th and final year in the FLL program. I absolutely love Lego Robotics! It allows me to learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a fun and enjoyable way! We also learn other skills in the program such as public speaking and how to work well as a team. Each week I get to be with my teammates and friends as we go through the FLL season together. Besides doing Lego Robotics, I'm in my 7th year of dance and my first year of competitive dance. I have also been playing the piano for 8 years. The FLL program is a great way to learn and at the same time have fun! So I'd recommend you join an FLL team and get started!!!
Anisha
Hi! I'm Anisha and this will be my fifth and final year of FLL Robotics! FLL has truly changed my life. It showed me how spectacular and exciting the STEM fields are. It has been a major part of my crazy schedule; I'm on a travel soccer team, I do Indian classical dance, I enjoy sewing and doing fashion illustrations and I love to hang out with my friends and listen to music. I enjoy the FLL program because it exposes you to a whole other world and shows you how STEM can be helpful in your future. Having been on this team since the very beginning, it is crazy to think this is our last year! I have grown so close to my teammates that we are practically sisters! The best part about our team is that everyone is different, we all have strengths and weaknesses, yet we mesh together as one. With a team as amazing as mine, it literally can take us anywhere! We went to Germany and Florida!! I can't wait to see where this season takes us!!!
Claire
Hi I'm Claire!!! This is will be my fifth year in FLL Robotics . . . I've been on the team since we started in 4th grade. It is one of my favorite things to do!! Besides doing FLL, I'm very active in sports. I play soccer, water polo, basketball, volleyball, run track and I LOVE to horseback ride! I also really like to bake with my friends!! In my free time, I enjoy going to the YMCA, hanging at the barn, listening to music and being with my friends! I am so pumped for our team's final year in the FLL program! It has been an amazing experience for me and I have learned so much about STEM and about myself! I have learned that if I work really hard, opportunities will come my way . . . look . . . we went to Florida and Germany!!
Isabel
Hi, I'm Isabel! This is my 3rd year in the FLL program. In my free time, I like to draw and write stories. I also play trumpet and volleyball. Lego Robotics has taught me to look at real-life problems at different angles and to think outside the box. I get to really use my "creative" side! I think it's a fun and engaging way to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering & math). I enjoy it a lot and am going to be really sad to see it end. In the meantime, though, I'm looking forward to learning more in this last year and having fun with my team!
Rachel
I'm Rachel! I have been on the team since it started, so this is my fifth year on The Moovers. FLL Robotics has exposed me to real world problems and taught me how to be a good teammate and person. I have had a great experience with the FLL program and STEM. Competitions are so fun and it is always great to be with my friends. Other than robotics, I dance every day of the week and I am on a competitive dance team. Sadly, this is my last year in the FLL program, so I want to make it the best year of all!!