Richland Lego robotics team hopes state grants won’t be put on hold

Robots have taken over the STEM room at Marcus Whitman Elementary School in Richland, Washington. 

Little Lego boats, sunken ships and other vehicles are spread out across a table. And each robot has a job to do. It’s sort of like the game Mouse Trap.

“Since I was little I loved just using random Legos and building random stuff,” said fourth grader Sergio  Preciado.

Sergio and his nine teammates named the Lego robots they’ve built: Bob and Gary, the twins.

They’ve built two robots for redundancy, said fifth grader Colton Culbertson. The kids have written code to tell the robots what to do and where to go. 

“ You could be creative with it, in any way you want.  We would code it with a pink block that says, ‘Go forward for however many seconds.’ Then we would have it use the arm motor. And then do another mission,” Colton said.

Sergio demonstrated the different missions.

“We put the robot right here. It pushes (more Legos), and puts it in the circle,” Sergio said. “Yeah, that one worked.”

The Marcus Whitman “Dino Nuggys” team is part of the FIRST Lego League program, where kids experiment with extracurricular STEM projects. That’s science, technology, engineering and math. 

Fourth grader Viviana Vargas and fifth grader Dylan Gurtisen present their plans for the Sub Roller 7, a robot the team designed to help chew up an overabundance of stargrass in the Yakima River. (Credit: Courtney Flatt / NWPB)

There are three challenges in the league’s competitions: a Lego robot build, an innovation project and a Lego robot battle.

In the “challenge” league, students learn to code, problem-solve and innovate. The program is the largest after-school, nonprofit STEM program in the state, according to FIRST Washington leaders.

However, most of the club is run on funds from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, or OSPI. And there’s a gap in how much Washington has collected in taxes and what it’s spending.

Budgets and funding

Because of Washington’s budget shortfall, which could be $12 billion, there’s a chance that funding won’t be included in the next state budget, said Christine McKinnon. She helped bring the FIRST program to the Tri-Cities nearly 20 years ago, coached countless teams and now runs tournaments.

“All of our teams are run by donation and funding. Very few are run by personal pockets,” McKinnon said. “Without the OSPI funding, we cease to exist.”

According to OSPI, the state funded $1.4 million during the 2023-24 school year for FIRST robotics programs for kids in fourth through 12th grades. 

So far, Gov. Bob Ferguson wants to keep all kindergarten through 12th grade investments in place, according to the governor’s proposed budget savings.  

A few companies donate to the program, McKinnon said, but it’s mostly grant funded.

To push for funding, the team has written to state lawmakers for support. Sergio said he told legislators the Dino Nuggys team is one step toward his dream of becoming an electrician.

“ I could really express how I really felt. That’s what was popping up in my head,” Sergio said.

After years of leading teams, McKinnon showed off a photo album that included notes from all the students she’s mentored. The album is what she calls her “favorite trophies.”

She says the kids still come up with “off-the-wall ideas.”

“ You’re like, ‘There’s no way that can work.’ And then you watch it work, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, I trust our future,’” McKinnon said. “I’m so excited for what’s to come because these guys don’t give up.”

Facing competition

This year is the second year the Dino Nuggys have participated in competitions. The team took home a Finalist award at regionals. At the state competition, the Dino Nuggys received a Rising All-Star award, which recognizes a team that the judges “expect great things in the future.” 

Marcus Whitman Elementary School’s FIRST Lego League Challenge and Explorers teams. The fourth and fifth graders on the Dino Nuggys team are raising money to compete at an international competition in Massachusetts this summer. (Credit: Courtney Flatt / NWPB)

“ Our state competition was really fun because we get to see eighth graders and their robots,” Sergio said. “Their robots were just so cool.”

Even as self-described underdogs, they’ve been invited to an international invitational competition in Massachusetts this June. To attend the invitational competition, Sergio said the Dino Nuggys had luck on their side.

“We won a drawing. There’s 500 teams, (it) goes down to 200, then 20, and we’re still in,” he said.

They’ve started a GoFundMe for trip expenses. The team hopes to raise more than $24,000.

With all the time spent thinking about the team’s projects, lots of the kids say they hope to continue in STEM careers.

“These students have the world at their fingertips if they stick with it,” coach Heather Constance said. “There are scholarships available for students with these skills, opportunities that may not have presented themselves if they didn’t happen upon this program.”

High school competitions

Richland High School senior Tyler Bartlett remembered when he took part in the FIRST Lego League competitions when he was younger. He said the skills he learned in elementary school have carried over to his high school FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competitions — and other school projects.

Now, Bartlett drives a robot at Richland High School. But this one is much more complicated than the Lego versions. The students built parts with metal, a 3D printer or laser-cut wood. The high school students visited with the Dino Nuggys team during an after-school event on Feb. 20.

“ I think it’s really cool seeing what (FIRST Lego League has) become,” Bartlett said. “I think they’re doing a better job than I did. I think I’m pretty good now, so I’m excited to see what they’re going to do.”

Volunteer Christy Bartlett coaches the Richland High School program. She’s also Tyler’s mom.

“ These kids, as adults, I want more of them. I want the world flooded with them because they know how to interact, they know how to problem-solve, they know how to put their ego aside and take care of things,” Christy Bartlett said.