Center Hosts State Tournament for Fourth Year
When people hear about LEGO robotics in West Virginia, the conversation usually turns to the Center for Educational Technologies. Dr. Meri Cummings, science resource teacher and lab manager here, is becoming even more known as the director of the annual West Virginia FIRST LEGO League robotics tournament, held each December at the Center for Educational Technologies and the Troy Theater at Wheeling Jesuit University. 2008 was the fourth year the center has hosted the tournament with Cummings at the helm each time. This year's competition brought more than 500 people to campus, including the more than 200 student competitors ages 9-14. In addition, thanks to funding from the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, which also underwrites the tournament, Cummings has traveled throughout the state conducting introductory workshops in LEGO robotics for schools and afterschool organizations. She's also combined fitness activities with the robotics for a weeklong day camp the last two years.