Three SMG Teams competed at the FIRST® Lego League 1st Round Qualifiers at Fellowship Christian Academy on December 3, 2016.

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Vision: "To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders," Dean Kamen, Founder stated on December 3, 2016, at Fellowship Christian Academy.

All three teams had some big wins:

1) Turtle Tech placed the highest of the SMG teams in the Robot Games Competition, sixth place out of 34 teams.  Two runs with very similar scores (119 & 91), which reflect that their Mechanical Design, Programming, and Strategy were robust. Teams have a chance to compete in three 2.5 minute matches and their highest score counts.

2) Short Circuit received the Core Values Award.  This award recognizes THE TEAM that excels across the Inspiration, Teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism® categories. This recognized team displays extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit, knows they can accomplish more together than they could as individuals, and shows one another and other teams respect at all times.

3) Skylab received a call back for their Robot Design which means they were being considered for the Robot Design Award. The Robot Design Award recognizes a team that excels across the Mechanical Design, Programming and Strategy & Innovation categories. This team uses outstanding programming principles and solid engineering practices to develop a robot that is mechanically sound, durable, efficient and highly capable of performing challenge missions.