Columbia Ridge team selected for LEGO Robotics open event
Congressman lauds Ridge kids' performance.
After a strong showing at a recent state competition, the Columbia Ridge Elementary LEGO Robotics team was a lottery selection to participate in an international open event in New Jersey in early June.
On Monday, coaches Alicia Keegan and Julie Kessel told Ephrata School Board members that the Ridge fourth-graders particularly impressed state judges with their “core values” — that is, support for one another and other competitors, positive behavior, and willingness to help.
“Those are skills that will last a lifetime,” said Kessel.
The Ridge kids’ efforts even caught the attention of U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, whose 4th Congressional District encompasses central Washington. In a Feb. 6 letter, Newhouse commended the students for “the way you represented Columbia Ridge Elementary School with such skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.”
“Your ability to adapt when faced with challenges, work collaboratively, and present your ideas with confidence reflects a maturity and innovation well beyond your years,” Newhouse wrote, concluding, “Our entire community is proud of you. Congratulations again on a remarkable season.”
The nine team members are Kairi Castro, Emma Criss, Daylan Grubb, Raeden Gutierrez, Leighton Henson, Lindsay Leenhouts, Braelynn Lutz, Zeyvien Nava, and Millie Scheelke.
Along with Columbia Ridge, robotics teams were also fielded by Grant Elementary, Parkway Intermediate, and Ephrata Middle School in the 2025 First LEGO League challenge with the theme, “Unearthed.” Students on the respective teams used STEM skills — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — in developing better ways to explore archaeological sites, excavate artifacts, and solve problems in researching the past.
Along with core values, competitions included judging on their innovations, critical thinking, public presentations, and actual performance of their robots on “the Lego Table.”
“The program builds self confidence and problem solving,” said Keegan.
The upcoming invitational event is the American Robotics Open Championship hosted June 6-7 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
To learn more in the weeks ahead, the Columbia Ridge team will be pairing with the Parkway Intermediate program, which sent a team to the national event last year, said Kessel.
Deb Knox, the school district’s co-director of Teaching & Learning and State & Federal Programs, also participated in Monday’s presentation to the school board, which approved discretionary funding for the pending trip.
