The Bellport Middle School Robo Panthers garnered the Programming Award at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League qualifier tournament, held at Huntington High School on Feb. 3. 

Sponsored by the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, members of  robotics teams from Nassau and Suffolk counties worked hard to research, design, build, program and test Lego robots that addressed this year’s challenge “Into Orbitism.” Teams, including the Robo Panthers, were instructed to choose and solve a real-world problem faced by humanity during long-term space exploration within the sun’s solar system. Competitors built, programmed and tested an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms technology to solve a set of Robot Game missions, operating under FIRST’s core values, teamwork and professionalism.  

Robo Panthers co-adviser Matthew Gualtieri explained that the team was judged on core values and teamwork,  their outer space innovative solution which included the design of an artificial device for astronaut health, and the technology and programmatic components of the robot. Mr. Gualtieri noted that the judges were particularly impressed by the team’s programming in the robot design category.

The South Country Central School District would like to congratulate Robo Panthers team members  Anthony Costanza, Derek Griffin, Dylan Horn, Travis Miller, Caden Rupolo, Dan Slawinski and James Vohrer on a great season.