Paleo Pangolin returns from First Lego League Robotics International Championship in Mexico

KANE COUNTY — The Paleo Pangolin Lego Robotics Team, made up of James Reed, Reese Josie, Anya Heaton and Britta Heaton, capped off a historic season by participating in the First Lego League Robotics International Open Championship in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico May 27-30.

Photos courtesy of Coaches Analise and Daniel Heaton.

At the state competition, they had been chosen as one of six teams to advance to an International Competition and our team was assigned the location of Guadalajara, Mexico. Sixty-five teams from around the world participated in the International Open Championship, including 29 from Mexico. The Paleo Pangolins were one of three teams representing the USA. Other countries represented by teams in the event included: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

In addition to the formal competition, the team participated in many cultural events, including a mariachi band performance and traditional Mexican dancers along with many other cultural presentations from other teams from around the world. Part of the event included a Robot Games alliance where they were paired up with a team from Mexico in a competition and made it into the playoffs.

During the four-day event they were able to go and check out all the other teams’ booths from around the world. The kids had fun trading pins and coins, learning to say words in a foreign language and trying lots of different candy and snacks that were interesting, along with learning about the other team’s innovation project and how they built their robot. They also enjoyed telling everyone about Kanab and how special the little town they are from is.

The team wants to send a BIG thank you all those who made it possible for them to participate in this experience through generous sponsorship including Kane Education Foundation, Kane School District STEM grant, Kane County Hospital, UT/ AZ ATV Club, Garkane Energy, Kanab Drug, Zions Pharmacy and many other individual contributions. They really appreciated being able to share their project with so many from our community and many others from out of town at the Red Rock Jamboree, who were so generous to contribute.

It was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity we will never forget!