Thirty-six robots constructed of LEGO pieces will be put through their paces on Sunday, Dec. 4 during the Finger Lakes FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournament hosted by the University of Rochester.

Teams of 9 to 14 year old students will place their custom-built creations in a 4-by-8-foot arena to navigate obstacles and retrieve hard-to-get-at objects.

The students are also required to give presentations that address this year's theme: keeping food safe. Through posters, skits or other activities, the contestants will demonstrate what they have learned about the topic.

In order to reach the regional championship, the 36 teams had to prove their engineering and communication skills at one of eight qualifying events around Western New York and the Southern Tier. The winners of the regional contest will travel to the World Festival in St. Louis, Mo. in April to compete against teams from more than 30 countries.

Event Details

What: The Finger Lakes FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship Tournament
Where: Goergen Athletic Center at the University of Rochester
When: Sunday, Dec. 4 from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
On-Site Contact: Megan Verzulli; (585) 402-8670 (c)