This year's FLL theme is "Trash Trek" with a focus on recycling. Each team designs and builds a robot to accomplish specific missions related to that theme, as well as developing and presenting a product that solves a problem related to the theme.  At Saturday's Regional, Team Golden PlatyPI started the day by setting a team record in their Robot Performance in the first of three rounds of Robot games -- a score which ended up 2nd highest overall for the day, earning an "Honorable Mention" award for Robot Performance. They had an excellent Robot Design interview, balanced across all team members, in explaining the design process, decisions and adjustments made. They closed the day presenting their Project ("RB" the "Recycle Bot") in a fun skit sharing real results based on an actual test in the school, and were gracious professionals demonstrating the Core Values of FLL as they had fun meeting and cheering on the other FLL teams throughout the day.

Team Golden PlatyPI is comprised of the following Des Moines Christian School students in grades 5-9:  Ryker Diekevers, Alex Mona, Amanda Mona, Jonah Mudlaff, Luke Oswald, Amelia Samuelson, Sam Steensten, and Carson Veenstra. The team is sponsored by the Noon Optimist Club of Western Des Moines, and coached by Optimist members and Des Moines Christian School parents Mike Mona (head coach) and Rebecca Butler Mona (assistant coach). The team and coaches would like to thank all the parents, family members and friends who provided support for their preparation and came to the Science Center to cheer on the Golden PlatyPI at the Regional. They are looking forward to a great experience at the State Championship at ISU!