The Oshawa campus of Durham College (DC) played host to the brightest young minds in Ontario this weekend as they competed in the 2024 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge Ontario Provincial Championship.

More than 400 Grade 4 to 8 students took part in the DC-sponsored event, guided by adult coaches and cheered on by friends and family. Their engineering skills and student-designed LEGO-based robots were put to the test in a variety of challenges.

The theme of the event, MASTERPIECE, immersed students in the possibilities of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, while learning all the ways it can intersect with the arts. DC was the ideal setting for such a theme; our Mixed Reality Capture Studio is a prime example of how STEM can contribute to the arts, boasting state-of-the-art motion capture technology, VR headsets and virtual production capabilities.

“As we look to the future, the students here today are the ones who will not only dream of what’s possible, but take the steps to make it a reality,” said DC President Don Lovisa during Saturday’s opening ceremony. “Your imagination will change the way we experience and interact with art and technology in the years to come.”

After two days of friendly competition, Les robots-franco-zarts from Aurora placed first in the East division, and Stampsations from Mississauga placed first in the West division.

You can learn more about FIRST LEGO League online.