Southeast seeks volunteers for robot competition

The Department of Polytechnic Studies at Southeast Missouri State University is seeking volunteers as it hosts a FIRST LEGO League competition Nov. 21 in the University Center.

The competition is for fourth- to eighth-grade students, and about 20 teams of five to 10 students each are expected to attend, according to a university news release.

Student teams have three months to build a robot from LEGO Mindstorm Kits for the competition and use their robot to complete a themed mission for points.

This year, the competition will have a Trash Trek Challenge as the mission. During the event, students pitch an idea for an invention to help with waste production to a group of judges.

Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the day of the event. Anyone 16 or older is welcome to help because little training is required, the release stated, and most will be done the day of the event. In exchange for time, volunteers will be provided breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt.

Volunteers can sign up by visiting usfirst.org and clicking the "volunteer" tab. Those with an an account should select "apply for an event." Others can create one with up-to-date information.

Volunteers are asked to complete a youth protection form. Those volunteering can elect to pay later when signing up for the event, and the event will cover the cost. Volunteers will receive an email with the Youth Protection application and another after a background check has been completed.

For more information, contact Brad Daken at bdeken@semo.edu or (573) 651-2104.