LEGOS FOR PARKINSON’S
As part of the FIRST* LEGO® League program, a group of students (11–13-year-olds) from South Carolina calling themselves the “Argent Agents” developed three tools out of Legos that make it easier for people with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremors to use a paint brush, pencil, or marker so they can create art.
After winning the SC State Championship, these ingenious inventors advanced to the FIRST LEGO League Challenge World Championships in Houston, Texas, where they captured the Best Robot Design award! The competition included the top 110 teams — out of about 30,000 — from around the world. The FIRST LEGO League program teaches young people how to think like engineers and solve problems as a team. As they were fine-tuning their inventions, they reached out to APDA for expert feedback, and Dr. Rebecca Gilbert spent some time learning about their project and sharing her thoughts.
Importantly, they added a fundraising component and are raising money for APDA ($804 raised so far!) We are so impressed with these intelligent and compassionate young students and so thankful for their efforts to support APDA!
The Argent Agents include six Greenville students: Lily Arzt, Nicky Arzt, Benjamin Frick, Jackson Champion-Wescott, Jackson Haughton, and Henry Quackenbush. What a team!
If you are interested in raising funds for APDA through a local project or event, please contact jcolasuonno@apdaparkinson.org.
*FIRST: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology