BCS Advantage Magazine Special Edition #9

Koontz Designs Robot to Fight Fires The Rams proudly pose with their first place award. By Benjamin Rickert, Communications Department It was the innovation of Koontz Intermediate students that earned their robot a chance to compete in the N.C. First Lego League state championships in January. On December 2, fifth- and sixth-graders calling themselves The Koontz Battering Rams competed against 47 WNC teams in a battle of ingenuity using Lego EV3 technology. According to the school, teams were presented with a wildfire watering problem, and students began designing and testing a robotic solution in August. To better understand the task at hand, they asked community partners like Captain Phillip Hensley from the Swannanoa Fire Department to help them understand the challenges of fighting wildfires. At the WNC regional competition, teams were evaluated on their innovative water solution project and presentation, robot design, core values and teamwork skills. The Koontz Battering Rams won 1st place in their presentation category which was accompanied by an explanatory skit, and they were among only 13 schools from WNC selected to compete at the state level at Greensboro’s AT&T University. Susan Cohen, MD Donna Page, MD Leigh Dodson, MD Eleanor Martin, MD Calvin Tomkins, MD Peter Leimena, MD Ellie McCormac, PA-C Caring for children since 1938! Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Drop-In Clinics available Monday-Friday for established patients Evening and Weekend hours available by appointment Accepting new patients! 2 Medical Park Drive, Suite 1000, Asheville, NC 28803 828-254-5326 │ www.ashevillepediatrics.com 13

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