4-H Youth Receive Awards at Utah FIRST League Championship

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Robotics teams from Salt Lake County 4-H competed at the Utah FIRST Lego League (FLL) Championships in January at the University of Utah. FLL is a global robotics and innovation program that promotes science and technology.

One of the Salt Lake County 4-H teams, Lego Bistro, won the Innovative Solution Award at the competition. The award recognizes a team’s solution to a problem that is exceptionally well considered and creative. The team’s idea is to connect a pump to produce sprayers in grocery stores that would inject a solution that helps reduce or eliminate surface bacteria on produce. The special FDA approved solution kills the bacteria and evaporates quickly ensuring that no residual odor or taste is left.

“What’s really cool about this contest and the award is how well it fits with Extension and our land-grant mission,” said Vernon Parent, Salt Lake County 4-H associate professor.

The team is now in the running for the FLL Global Innovation Award and is currently in 16^th place out of 167 teams. The winner of that competition will receive a $250,000 grant that will allow for the development and marketing of the product. If Lego Bistro can make it to the top 10 by the end of February, they will be in the running for the grant. To vote for Lego Bistro, visit http://www.legobistro.blogspot.com for information.

The Junior Jedis, another Salt Lake County 4-H team, received the Robot Mechanical Design Award that recognizes a team that designs and develops a mechanically sound robot that is durable, efficient and highly capable of performing challenge missions.

Morgan Selph, Salt Lake County project manager and 4-H volunteer, won the Outstanding Volunteer Award. The award honors Selph for being an extraordinary volunteer whose dedication to the FLL program has had a positive impact on the team experience.

“Morgan Selph was instrumental in designing the Utah FLL qualifier events held throughout the state and provided venues and leadership for two Salt Lake County qualifier events,” said Marcelle Smith, Salt Lake County Extension assistant professor. “It’s very impressive that 4-H provided the avenue for our 4-H participants to win three out of 14 awards with the event hosting 48 teams and 500 volunteers.”

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