Homeschool Robotics Team TREX excels in state contest

MADISON – FLL Team “TREX” #71323, a newly formed homeschool robotics team from the Madison area, captured second place for the coveted Champion’s Award at the Alabama FIRST LEGO League or FLL State Robotics Competition on Feb. 7.

TREX now will attend the Ramblin’ Robots Invitational Tournament at Georgia Institute of Technology or Georgia Tech.

Another team from Madison, the “Where’s Chicken?” students won the Champion’s Award and will advance to the World Festival for Robotics.

Homeschool parents Tina Boozer and Elizabeth Holt are the coaches for Team TREX students. The team’s composition has seven upper-elementary and middle-school homeschool students. These three girls and four boys are competing in their first year together.

TREX members are Cash Banks, Lilianna Holt, Olivia Honderich, Sophia Honderich, Ephraim Newell, Oliver Riley and Aiden White.

The students designed, built and programmed a LEGO robot to complete a series of real-world themed missions. The team simultaneously developed and presented a research project while demonstrating advanced problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.

All the local Homeschool LEGO Robotics Teams, including Team TREX, launched this year by Madison-area homeschool mother Stephanie Hurtado Lonard. She is marking her first year in partnership with the FIRST LEGO League organization.

While other teams serve younger children as introductory Explore Teams, TREX is currently a competition-level team in the homeschool group. Their work for the Champion’s Award tournament was especially significant for the community.

“As a first-year team, these kids have exceeded every expectation,” Lonard said. “They took ownership of every part of the process — from robot design and coding to their innovation project — and they’ve shown what homeschool students can do when they are given space to explore and lead.”

FIRST LEGO League introduces students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM with fun, hands-on challenges that emphasize collaboration, innovation and gracious professionalism. As Team TREX prepares for upcoming competitions, they are seeking sponsors, donors and community partners to help cover travel, registration and materials costs, according to TREX leaders.

Supporters can donate tax-deductible contributions directly to the team at hcb.hackclub.com/donations/ start/t-rex-firstlego- league-team.

“This experience has shown us what’s possible when kids work hard and believe in their ideas,” TREX team member Cash Banks said.

For more information, email boozert2@gmail. com.