Why robotics in remote villages in Western Alaska?
The answer is simple:  From small places come BIG IDEAS and tomorrow’s leaders.

When two LKSD teachers and a student attended a robotics competition in December 2004 and saw the potential for generating interest in and applying S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and the excitement it would bring to LKSD students, little did they know how much interest it would generate - and how much impact it would have on hundreds of students over the next few years.  From the 2005 FIRST Lego League (or FLL)  pilot season with 12 teams and 60 students during the Mission Mars Challenge to the 2008 FLL Climate Connections Challenge with 23 teams and approximately 150 students – every participant, youth and adult alike have come to understand F.I.R.S.T.’s concept of Gracious Professionalism and continue to reap the benefits of their participation in robotics far beyond the competition seasons.  

As LKSD’s robotics program coordinator, Alaska Robotics Education Association board member and 2005 Alaska robotics coach/mentor of the year - Marc is interested in making FIRST Lego League (for students grades 4-8) and FIRST Tech Challenge (for students grades 9-12) accessible and educational for everyone in rural Alaska.  Leadership, problem solving, teamwork, and effective communication are all important and necessary skills in life.  Demand is high for people who have S.T.E.M. skills and who also understand the role Gracious Professionalism has in the workplace and in a technological society.

FIRST Lego League – (FLL)
For more information, go to www.firstlegoleague.org

FIRST Tech Challenge – (FTC)
For more information, go to http://www.usfirst.org/community/FTC/default.aspx?id=968