Girl Scout Robotics Team Introduced to Surgical Robot at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon

One of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' Robotics Teams, Purple Robot Penguins from O'Fallon, learned more about premier  robotics technology during February's "Healthy Woman" event at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. 

 

Purple Robot Penguins are one of GSSI's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, which build and program autonomous robots to perform tasks on a themed-competition board.   Teams also learn vital skills such as problem solving, active participation and collaboration.   Robotics are one of many programs that GSSI offers to help engage more girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) -- areas which Girl Scouts sees as crucial to America's future success.

 

Dr. David Asbury and Dr. Andrew Johnson presented the Four Arm Robotic Surgical System to members of Crossroads' "Healthy Woman" program, as well as the Purple Robot Penguins.   The girls were able to examine the surgical robot before demonstrating their own robotics skills with their FIRST LEGO League model. 

 

Purple Robot Penguins were able to attend the exciting event through the consideration of Debi Richardson, current Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the hospital and former GSSI Board Member.  She was familiar with GSSI's Robotics Program and thought girls would enjoy getting a firsthand glimpse of modern medical technology and could show the "Healthy Woman" crowd that today's Girl Scouts are investing in the future through STEM programming such as robotics.

In connection to the event, Crossroads Community Hospital made a donation to GSSI.

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Members of Purple Robot Penguins with Finny Mathew,
Crossroads Community Hospital's Chief Executive Officer

 

Four GSSI Robotics Teams to Compete in FIRST Lego League State Tournament

Four Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' Robotics Teams will be competing in the FIRST Lego League State Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 18 at University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

The Lego Divas from Effingham qualified for state during the Dec. 7 FLL Regional at Carriel Jr. High in O'Fallon.   At the tournament, they also won the Project Award for their research project, the "Heat Buddy," a battery operated heated blanket designed to aid stranded motorists.   Read more...

See photos from the Dec. 7 FLL Regional

On Dec. 14, eleven GSSI Robotics Teams had been scheduled to compete in the McKendree University Regional.  However, a winter storm and icy road conditions caused the event to be cancelled.*  As no makeup date could be arranged in time to meet deadlines for the FLL State Tournament, teams were selected to advance to state competition by a lottery system.  GSSI teams made up nearly half of the total number of teams that were registered for the double tournament and three teams drawn ended up being from GSSI: TBot 907 from Roxana, Lightning Storm from Belleville and G4S4 from Ozark.

“We’re very excited to send four Girl Scout Robotics teams to the FLL State Tournament,” said GSSI Stem Program Manager Mary Buchanan. “Teams work very hard for months to design and program robots, as well as complete their research project and perfect their presentation skills.  Competing among the best teams in the Illinois is a wonderful experience for the girls.”   

*An exhibition tournament was held Jan. 11 at Carriel Jr. High in O'Fallon for the teams originally scheduled to compete in the McKendree Regional.  Four GSSI Robotics Teams received awards!  Read more...

Four GSSI Robotics Teams Take Home Awards at FIRST LEGO League Tournament

GSSI Teams mingle while waiting to compete on game table.

Four GSSI Robotics Teams took home awards at the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Tournament at Carriel Jr. High in O'Fallon on Jan. 11, 2014.The tournament was an exhibition that made up for the McKendree University Regional that was cancelled due to weather in December.  Because of the large number of teams participating, squads were split into two groups that competed in identical tournaments, "Class A" and "Class B."

Teams from the McKendree University Regional were selected to advance to the state tournament by lottery after the cancellation.  While the tournament at Carriel Jr. High did not determine which teams qualified for state competition, awards were given for remarkable performance. 

GSSI teams receiving awards were:

Class A Tournament:

TBot 907 from Roxana earned the "Champions Award" for the team that displayed the best overall performance.

Gir! - Girls Investigating Robots from Staunton earned the "Core Values Award" for best exemplifying the cornerstones of the FLL program, which include active participation, teamwork and gracious professionalism.

The Tornado Twist*rs from Albers earned the "Rookie Award" for the best first-year team.

Class B Tournament:

Lightning Storm of Belleville earned the "Judges Award" for the team that the FLL Judges found to be remarkable.

Additional teams to compete in the Jan. 11 tournament were The Purple Robot Penguins from O'Fallon, The Fireworks from Glen Carbon, The Catastrophic Cadettes from Staunton and Robo Fury from Alton.  In addition, two GSSI teams, Shiloh Robo Bears and The Tornado Tech Girls from Pinckneyville were unable to attend the rescheduled tournament. GSSI also had four Girl Scout Robotics teams participate in a Regional Qualifying tournament on Dec. 7: The Lego Divas from Effingham, The Twisters from Troy/Marine, The Robotic Gems from Washington Park and The Unknowns from Belleville.

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Four GSSI Robotics Teams will compete at the FLL State Tournament on Jan. 18 at University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.  These teams are TBot 907, Lightning Storm, The Lego Divas and G4S4 from Ozark. 

GSSI's Robotic Gems from Washington Park Featured in 2013 United Way Campaign

Watch United Way Video Now!

 

Five Girl Scouts from Avant Elementary School in Washington Park will be featured as part of United Way of Greater St. Louis’ annual fundraising campaign. Diavion, Jordan, Akayla, Mallorie and R’moni, all 11-year-olds, make up Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ robotics team called the Robotic Gems. In 2012, the team was awarded the "Core Values" award in the FIRST LEGO League's regional tournament held at McKendree University. 

 

Later this fall, the five Girl Scouts will not only be featured in the United Way video, but will be seen on billboards and posters throughout the Metro-East. The Robotic Gems is one of 25 robotic teams that GSSI has formed as the center of their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) initiatives. “We are so proud of these girls and they represent well what today’s Girl Scouts are doing to hone their skills and learn more about possible careers in STEM fields,” said Emily Stanley, GSSI STEM Manager. “Our goal is to build and reinforce girls’ interest in STEM, to support their continued involvement as they reach critical decision-making points and to achieve parity in these fields. Thanks to Girl Scouting’s STEM initiatives, we are providing today’s girls the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place,” Stanley added. 

 

GSSI's robotics program has grown from one team in 2009 to 25 teams in three leagues in 2013-14.   To learn more about joining GSSI's robot revolution, please contact STEM Program Manager and robotics coordinator Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.  

GSSI is a proud partner of several United Ways that serve our 40 1/2 county jurisdiction.
 

See photos of Robotic Gems...