Techno Tigresses bring home first-place honor

Submitted by Shannon Mann

CLAYTON — Johnston County’s only all-girl robotics team won first place at the NC FIRST Lego League State Competition recently in Greensboro.

The Techno Tigresses, a communitybased team of girls ages 11-13 from different schools, took home the first place Inspiration Award in the core value category. This award recognizes a team that excels across the Inspiration, Teamwork and Gracious Professionalism categories.

Teams considered for this award displayed extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit, showed they could accomplish more together than they could as individuals and demonstrated respect to each other and other teams at all times. This award was one of only 11 first-place trophies awarded during competition.

Pictured from left to right, Sloan Mann, Sydney Matisoff, Ava Cummings and Kaitlyn Nolte, are members of the Techno Tigresses FIRST Lego League robotics team based out of Johnston County.

FIRST Lego League is the largest STEMbased robotics program in the world. Students not only compete in robot categories, but also prepare for two other judging components to include an innovative project and solution and an overarching core value category.

North Carolina has more than 500 FIRST Lego League teams that compete at regional events October through December with 120 teams advancing to a two-day competition in mid-January. The Techno Tigresses were the only all-girl team among 60 teams competing from across the state on the campus of A&T University.

“It’s been a wonderful rookie season for these girls,” said coach Shannon Mann. “They’ve really put so much work into this and stretched themselves in all areas of the competition. To win first place in any category is a big deal because all the children who compete are amazing. I’m very proud of them.”

To learn more about FIRST Lego League go to www.firstinpires.org or follow the Techno Tigresses on Facebook.