Tomorrow's Innovators Podcast

The Utah 4-H Underdogs are a robotics club of young engineers and innovators that are also refugees from 9 difference countries. In 2019 these incredible youth competed in their regional FIRST Robotics FRC Competition and won in the rookie category, which allowed them to advance on, to the FIRST World Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas. In this interview we discuss their experience getting involved in youth robotics, starting a club, and the importance of friendship, communication, perseverance, and hard work when building and programming robots for high-pressure competitions.

Deb Ivie is an Extension Assistant Professor at Utah State University where she develops 4-H STEM youth programs. Deb graduated from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate and masters degree in human development but got her start in positive youth development as a mother and eventually a 4-H robotics club leader for her 7 kids and their friends. She shares how she started a 4-H afterschool electronics program that eventually evolved into 11 4-H robotics clubs competing in the FIRST LEGO League. She also explains how she went about seeking funding for these teams, but more importantly how to strengthen core values within a robotics team and with partners like elementary schools and the 4-H program.

Alexis Worwood is the head coach of the 4-H Emoji-Coders robotics club from "coal country" in rural Emery county, Utah. She shares both the success and struggles of starting a 4-H robotics club that competes in FIRST LEGO League--from figuring out the rules and finding balance with the members of her team. She also speaks to the value in discovering the strengths and weaknesses of each club member and teaching the youth to become well rounded innovators and contributors in their rural community.

Curtis Larsen is a professor of computer science at Dixie State University and dedicated FLL volunteer since 2011. He shares his wisdom, experience, and insights through each mission of the FIRST LEGO League City Shaper challenge, providing you with tips and guidance on how to optimize your team’s scoring potential during the robot game. When you listen to this episode, it is advised you do so in front of your own challenge set.

Sherri Lords is a motivated classroom teacher at Red Mountain Elementary and manages a thriving 4-H Afterschool computer science club that includes multiple FLL teams. 

Rachel is current Utah 4-H State Ambassador who has been involved in FLL as a student mentor for the past two years and will be a head coach for this coming season now that she is 18.

2019-2020 FLL challenge - Youth are asked: What if you could build a better world? Where would you begin? In FIRST, youth are part of a community brimming with inspiration, creativity, and hope for a stronger, more sustainable future—one that’s built better together. 

Provided in this episode is the audio from the CITY SHAPER Kickoff on the FLL League YouTube channel.

Heidi is an elementary school teacher of 10 years and has lead and organized multiple FLL teams at her school. 

Aubree has served with Heidi for the past 4 years as an FLL mentor, and is an FTC robotics competitor. They have extensive experience in how to bring FLL into a school.

Gayla Peacock became involved in robotics when her brother, Curtis Larsen, asked her to be an assistant coach for their new team. The team has won awards at every FLL regional qualifier that they’ve been to, and attribute much of their success to Gayla’s taskmaster skills. You don’t need to be a software developer to lead a youth robotics team.

Matthew Lowe, principle of Hurricane Elementary, has a love for FIRST robotics. He has coached teams at his school for the past 6 years and created a robotics program with 13 teams. He brings insight and perspective into how a veteran school administrator leads, organizes, and supports a comprehensive youth robotics program.

Jenny and Alex Chamberlain are 4-H volunteers that have served as FLL coaches for multiple seasons. All the kids on their teams, from “Built to Be Wild” to “The Droids You Are Looking For” have had tremendous success applying the FIRST core values of gracious professionalism and cooperation in their everyday lives. They understand that youth robotics competitions are about more than robots.