Hastings Secondary College

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Baked Pickles Return from the FIRST LEGO League World Championship

24 Apr 2025

Fresh from Houston, Texas, the Baked Pickles have returned with international insights, unforgettable memories, and invaluable expertise to share with their peers.

The team arrived home in Port Macquarie yesterday after proudly representing Australia and Hastings Secondary College at the FIRST LEGO League World Championship. Attending this event had been a long-held dream spanning five years, and their experience at the championship was nothing short of extraordinary.

The four-day event brought together more than 160 teams from around 60 countries. Simply qualifying for the World Championship was a remarkable achievement, with only one percent of teams worldwide reaching this level. The Baked Pickles placed 47th overall, an outstanding result at such a prestigious international competition.

Final rankings were determined based on three key areas: robot performance, judging presentations, and core values. At this elite level, the standard was exceptionally high, and even the smallest details made a significant difference. The team performed exceptionally well in their innovation presentation, confidently responding to all questions. Their creative thinking and problem-solving were highly commended, leaving the judges impressed. This became a major highlight of the competition.

Competing internationally came with its share of unexpected challenges. Some of the LEGO robot attachments, which are extremely delicate, were damaged in transit. Despite their best efforts, the team was unable to fully rebuild them before the competition, which impacted their robot scoring. Another hurdle was the lack of presentation screens or projectors at the venue. Fortunately, with the support of an Australian FIRST Robotics team, the Baked Pickles borrowed a portable TV, enabling them to deliver their presentations effectively.

While the team did not return with the LEGO Brick trophy they had hoped for, they gained something even more valuable. They returned home with lifelong memories, international friendships, and a broadened perspective of the world. They connected with peers from across the globe, shared stories, exchanged contact details, and learned about different cultures.

A special highlight of the trip was a visit from Australian Deputy Consul General Drew Dainer, who spent time with the students in Houston. His encouragement and interest in their work became a memorable part of the experience, reinforcing the importance of international representation and connection.

A favourite saying of STEM Project Officer and team coach, Ryland O'Connell, is "You cannot be what you cannot see." For many team members, this trip provided their first real insight into the wider world of STEM. During the championship, students had the opportunity to meet inspiring role models including Jay Flores, a Global STEM Ambassador, the designers behind this year’s LEGO Robotics game board, and several STEM professionals who left a lasting impression.

Each student gained something valuable from this opportunity, including strengthened confidence, improved communication skills, resilience, a deeper sense of teamwork, and personal growth. Even though this was their final year competing in FIRST LEGO League, and possibly their last in the FIRST Robotics

Competition depending on future study commitments, the team is already discussing how they can give back. From mentoring younger students to improving robot designs and helping ensure the team’s continuity, the Baked Pickles are eager to share what they have learned.

They have truly embraced this experience and are using it as a platform for leadership, camaraderie, and shared learning. The outcomes extend far beyond STEM, highlighting the power of international collaboration and the importance of perseverance.

After the FLL competition concluded, the students attended the finals of the FIRST Robotics Competition, often referred to as the "big robots." Every Baked Pickle has been a proud member of the College’s FRC team, making it a special moment to cheer on their favourite teams alongside more than 50,000 enthusiastic spectators.

To round off the trip, the team spent a day exploring Houston, including a visit to the NASA Johnson Space Center. The tour inspired the students and sparked ideas about careers in space exploration and engineering. They also visited the robotics lab of the Robonauts, one of the world’s most successful FRC teams sponsored by NASA.

Hastings Secondary College is incredibly proud of the Baked Pickles and grateful to everyone who supported them on this journey. Their achievements, resilience, and commitment exemplify the spirit of our College and the bright futures ahead for each team member. We look forward to them sharing their inspirational experiences with their peers when school returns.