On Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, SUNY Broome Community College hosted the FIRST® LEGO® League Explore Expo for area elementary school students.
FIRST® LEGO® League introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children ages 4-16 through exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together.
In Explore, teams of students ages 6-10 focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design, code, and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO® Education SPIKE Essential.
There were more than 150 people in attendance, including two school districts, 18 teams and their families, and more than 10 organizations providing support.
Teams displayed their “Submerged” themed build that they have been working on for several months. They created their model, tested, and evolved their designs while developing their Core Values and teamwork.
We’d like to recognize all the participants and the awards they received! This event would not have been possible without the contributions of Danielle Britton (Director of Training, Education and Workforce Development at SUNY Broome Community College), Jingzhou (Frank) Zhao (Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton) and Darren MacDonald (Community Connector and Lego League Organizer).
Team participants:
| Team Name | School District | Coaches |
| Astro Sharks | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Andreas Pape and Bindia Upreti |
| Saturday Submarine Sea Squad 6 | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Rachel Cavalari and Daniel Cavalari |
| Leaping Legends | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Ayana Taylor and Matthew Hutchinson |
| Blobish Builders | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Orrin Kenyon and Sreekanth Kondareddy |
| The Fintastic Aqua Builders | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Ben Balkaya and Katie Balkaya |
| Abyssal Bros. | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Dan Collins and Dana Artimez |
| Lego Legends | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Bernard Bush and Priyal Taylor |
| No Name | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | Danielle Britton and Stacey Rosman |
| Golden Sharkitechs | African Road Elementary, Vestal CSD | BrieAnna Langlie Mixter and Frank Zhao |
| The Pirates | Glenwood Elementary, Vestal CSD | Tim Myers and Sean Coughlin |
| Coral Team | Glenwood Elementary, Vestal CSD | Blaine Ellis and Victor Shierly |
| Ocean Empire | Glenwood Elementary, Vestal CSD | Melissa Kennedy and Heather Gleixner |
| GAMEJE | Vestal Hills Elementary, Vestal CSD | Samantha Schreck and Matthew Bigney |
| Lego Hills | Vestal Hills Elementary, Vestal CSD | Andrew Bowen and Joseph Seif |
| Lego Masters | Vestal Hills Elementary, Vestal CSD | Matt Becker and Kristina Sokolowsky |
| Lego Elementary | Vestal Hills Elementary, Vestal CSD | Fritz Zietsman and Joseph Muniz |
| Sea Potatoes | Vestal Hills Elementary, Vestal CSD | Holly Peck and Jonathan Peck |
| St John | Saint John, Catholic Schools of Broome County | Rachael Steinberg and Robert Duff |
Reviewers:
- Tony Hawkins, President, SUNY Broome Community College
- Penny Kelly, Vice President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Broome Community College
- Christine Martey-Ochola, Associate Vice President and Dean of STEM and Workforce Development, SUNY Broome Community College
- Robert Lofthouse, Associate Professor/Chairperson of Engineering Science & Physics, SUNY Broome Community College
- Lori Smudde, Technical Assistant in Marketing and Communications, SUNY Broome Community College
- Carol Miller, Executive Director, AMT
- Punit Shetty, Principal Consultant, AMT
- Art Law, Electrical and Computer Engineering Instructor, Binghamton University
- Vipul Lugade, Associate Professor in Physical Therapy and Director of the Motion Analysis Research Laboratory, Binghamton University
Additional Volunteers
- Our schools and community organizations providing additional activities:
- WSKG
- Southern Tier Community Center
- SUNY Broome Chemistry Department
- Southern Tier Robotics Club at Vestal High School
- Binghamton University Athletic Robotics Club
- Binghamton University Computer Science Professor Jayson Boubin
- Binghamton University Computer Science Professor Monika Roznere
- Our volunteers, including some from Vestal High School (Sarah Armstrong, Owen Armstrong, Melissa Grippin, Elliot Britton, Joseph Seif, Samera Choya, Landon Pancoast, Emily Behn)
Sponsors:
- FIRST LEGO League Global Sponsors: LEGO Education and The LEGO Foundation.
- Additionally, our Expo has been directly sponsored and supported by:
- SUNY Broome Community College for usage of this space
- Eastern Southern Tier STEM Hub (which is a part of the School-to-Careers Board of Broome-Tioga, and Broome-Tioga BOCES)
- Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement
- And additional support from the Vestal PTAs at African Road Elementary and Vestal Hills Elementary, and Glenwood School Community Association
The following awards were given out:
- The Pirates won the Creative Storytellers Award – For the team with an imaginative backstory for their project.
- Abyssal Bros won Playful Design Award – For the project that brought smiles or fun elements.
- Golden Sharkitechs won Future Architects Award – For the team with a structurally impressive build.
- Leaping Legends won Ocean Explorer Award – For the team that best captured the expo’s theme in their build.
- Lego Legends won the Tiny but Mighty Award – For the small but detailed creation.
- Lego Masters won Unexpected Award – For the team whose project had a big surprise element.
- The Fintastic Aqua Builders won the Legendary Build Award – For the team that created something truly unforgettable.
- Saturday Submarine Sea Squad 6 won Motion Magic Award – For the team with strong working mechanics or moving parts.
- Astro Sharks won the Marine Marvel Award – For a stunning sea creature or ocean-inspired design.
- Sea Potatoes won Dynamic Designers Award – For the team with a lot of moving parts or dynamic features.
- Lego Hills won the Imaginative Builders Award – For the team that turned a wild idea into reality.
- Coral Team won Dream Team Award – For the team that worked together seamlessly.
- No Name won Deep Sea Engineers Award – For the team with a well-structured and durable build.
- Blobish Builders won the Deep Sea Discovery Award – For the team that created a surprising or unique sea creature.
- Lego Elementary won the Ocean Rescue Award – For the team that designed a creative way to protect marine life.
- GAMEJE won the Seashell Sparkle Award – For the team that included creative, decorative details.
- Ocean Empire won Kraken Creativity Award – For an imaginative and legendary deep-sea design.
- John Team won Epic Adventure Award – For the team whose project tells an exciting journey.
For more information about FIRST® LEGO® League visit: www.firstlegoleague.org
For information about participating in next year’s program, contact Danielle Britton at brittondf@sunybroome.edu or complete this Google Form.
Submitted by: Workforce Development
