Yerger Middle School

HOPE – The Yerger Middle School RoboCats are taking their skills to the next level; state competition.

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Team faculty sponsor Melinda Strike said the six-member team of Damian Cardona, Abigail Contreras, K’Darius Gulley, Mason Samuel, Cynthia Vargas, and Lanod Westmoreland has begun to hit its peak after the Dec. 14 qualifier at the FIRST LEGO League competition in Hot Springs.\r\n

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YMS placed second overall in the Robot Game segment of the competition with a score of 310 points.\r\n

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“There were 14 teams in attendance and five were selected to advance to the state tournament,” Strike said. “for the first time ever, the YMS RoboCats were given a spot at state.”\r\n

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The team won the FIRST LEGO League Breakthrough Award, she said.\r\n

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“This award celebrates a team that best exemplifies participation in FIRST LEGO League as a journey of discovery,” Strike said.\r\n

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She said the team advanced based upon its determination to grow intellectually. \r\n

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“This team made significant progress in their confidence and capability in both the Robot Game and Innovation Project, and are a shining example of excellent core values,” Strike said. “They demonstrated that they understand that what they discover is more important than what they win.”\r\n

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The RoboCats will compete at the state tournament in Fayetteville on Jan. 24-25.\r\n