A leader in Legos

Jeff lives with his parents and his brother, Michael, who is 11.

If he's not doing something Lego-related, Jeff likes to spend his free time playing the piano, playing sports, making videos, building Web sites, fixing computers or playing computer games.

This enthusiastic senior likes home-schooling because, "I like how I can set my own pace and style." Sometimes, he even completes one week's worth of math in a single day!

Jeff plans to move forward in pursuing his interests by attending York College this fall where he'd like to major in either electrical, computer or mechanical engineering - perhaps even "a little of all of them."

What is FIRST Lego League (FLL)?

FLL is a competition designed for students from around the world, ages 9 to 14. The challenges encompass science, technology, robotic design and engineering problems. The students experience teamwork, creative and critical thinking, research global changing ideas and then present these ideas to prestigious judges. The two parts of each year's challenge are the robot game - constructing a mechanical device out of Lego pieces - and the research assignment - demonstrating student knowledge about the current competition theme. This year's challenge focuses on nanotechnology. "Nano Quest" challenges the students to explore a new frontier that impacts every facet of society, from medicine to computers to the environment.

How long have you been involved?

I have been involved with FLL for the past six years. The first three years, I participated as a team member with Lego Images. The following two years, I mentored Lego Images and the Blitzerbots, another FLL team in the area.

You've done a lot over the past few years. What is your role this year?

This year with the 2006-2007 challenge, "Nano Quest," I started a team of my own, "Star Tech," and so far, it has been great. I taught them the basic skills needed to excel in the robotic field, and after narrowing them down to a team of six, I started showing them some of the more advanced aspects of robots. At the start of each meeting, I ask the team what they would like to complete this week and have them write it on a whiteboard so everyone knows what needs to be done. As the team works on the tasks that we have assigned, I, and my assistant coach, Michael Boekel (18), help them if they need it.

What does a competition consist of?

A competition is an all-day event where teams compete in both the robot game and research presentation. Before they compete, the teams participate in practice rounds so that they can tweak their robot to perform just as it did on their mission board. After the practice rounds, teams compete for real and earn points for the missions they accomplish. Teams also get to present their research to judges, and the judges get to ask them questions about their research in order to see how much the kids have really learned. Throughout the day, teams compete in the robot game, and they also get judged on the following categories: robot design, research presentation and teamwork. During closing ceremonies, awards are given for each category. The best team overall gets to take home the Champions Award.

How many times does the team meet and for how long?

We meet once a week for four hours. Although we have found that meeting more than one time a week for a less amount of time is more productive, all the team members have pretty tight schedules.

That's a lot of practice time! For all the effort you guys have put into it, how well has Star Tech done in these competitions?

The closest state competition for us was one near Philadelphia. At this competition, we won the Champions Award for best overall performance, which allows us to go to the Internationals in Atlanta.

How has the invitation to Atlanta impacted you and the team?

In Atlanta, there will be 104 teams from all over the world and they all are winners just like we are, so we have kicked it in to high gear in order to be at the same level, if not higher than the teams that were invited.

How has the entire coaching experience impacted you personally?

I think it has made me more patient. The team has made me take more time than I really want to, like when the team does not remember a principle I've taught them and I have to explain it to them again, or when I just want to do it for them but cannot because I am the coach. The biggest thing is that my brother is on the team, so I have to be really patient with him.

If you could trade your involvement with the team this year for anything in the world, would you do it?

Are you crazy? FLL has been an awesome experience and I would recommend to anyone to get involved with FLL and be a part of this great opportunity.

Support Star Tech

Star Tech is asking organizations and individuals to help send the team to the FLL World Festival in Atlanta. There is a $1,000 registration fee that each team must pay and approximately $9,000 in promotional, travel and lodging expenses. Anyone wishing to support Star Tech on this adventure is welcome. Please contact Jeff Renga at 417-1470 or email jeffr88@verizon.net.