18 teams compete in First Lego Robotics tournament A team of 9-14 year-old-students from Bismarck’s Robert Miller Elementary School took home the top award at this year’s FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) Robotics North Dakota Championship Tournament held recently at the Betty Engelstad Arena. This year’s FLL robotics and research challenge, NANOQUEST, called for the competitors to learn about nanotechnology -- the new frontier that will impact every facet of society, from medicine to computers to the environment. As visionaries and scientists, the FLL teams explored unimaginably amazing new technologies that start in the Nano world and lead to the things we do and use every day. The FLL competition was judged in five areas: research and presentation, robot performance, technical mechanics of the robot’s construction, teamwork, and gracious professionalism. The highest honor goes to the team that best exemplifies the spirit and values of the program. Winning the top award from this year’s competition, the Directors Award, was the Bismarck Robert Miller Elementary School team. Runner-up was the team from Thompson, N.D. Other award winners were: “NanoQuest” Project Presentation: * First Place: Bismarck Gateway to Science Center * Second Place: Watertown South Dakota Public Schools Team Spirit Award: * First Place: Bismarck Apple Creek School * Second Place: Plaza Lewis and Clark School Robot Design Award: * First Place: Bismarck Saxvik Elementary * Second Place: Fairmount After School Program Robot Performance Award: * First Place: Bismarck Robert Miller Elementary * Second Place: Kittson Central School, Hallock, Minn. Teamwork Award: * First Place: Beulah Public School * Second Place: Fargo Washington Elementary Outstanding Volunteer Award: * First Place: Clancy and Julie Kadrmas, UND chemical engineering students * Second Place: David Kilpela, UND electrical engineering student Adult Coach/Mentor: * First Place: Surrey Public School, Byron Borgen * Second Place: Bismarck Gateway to Science, Russell Sorenson Young Adult Coach/Mentor: * First Place: Fairmount After School Program, Landon Luick * Second Place: Watertown, S.D. Public School, Tammy Rieber Against All Odds Award: * Fort Totten Four Winds School Judges Awards: * Hatton-Northwood School * Brookings, S.D. School * Grand Forks Dakota Science Center * Cando Public School * Tri-County Schools, Karlstad, Minn. The University and the School of Engineering and Mines hosted the event with the help of many UND student volunteers and the following corporate sponsors: Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Otter Tail Power Company, Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., Cargill, Ralph Engelstad Arena, Inc., and HB Sound & Light.