As a part of our ongoing mission to educate local middle and high school students about the many tech-based job opportunites in the region we are proud to announce the launch of the Get Set website. The website will augment the Get Set magazine that is being distributed to area middle and high schools. If you have not seen the magazine and would like a copy just let us know. The website will be ever expanding and we welcome your comments.

The Get Set program is a joint effort of Central VA Community College and the Tech Council is funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

CVCC is partnering with the Region 2000 Technology Council and Holy Cross School to host a regional Lego League Robotics Competition for local elementary and middle schools. The FIRST LEGO League (FLL), considered the "little league" of the FIRST Robotics Competition, is the result of a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Group. FLL extends the FIRST concept of inspiring and celebrating science and technology to children aged 9 through 14, using real-world contact and hands-on experimentation.

With the help of LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System technology, young participants can build a robot and compete in a friendly, FIRST-style robotics event specially designed for their age group. Using Lego bricks, a motorized chassis, and other props, each team pre-programs their robot to complete designated missions on tournament day. This year's challenge "Power Puzzle" encourages students to examine the global demand for energy.

We anticipate serving 25 teams at this year's Lego League tournament to be held Saturday, November 17 at Holy Cross Catholic School, 2125 Langhorne Road in Lynchburg. Tournament hours are 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., so plan your arrival around 8:00 a.m. There are many roles to be filled including set-up, judges, referees, practice pit managers, field managers, scorekeepers, traffic controllers, and a historian. Set-up will take place the night before (hours TBD). If you're available and would like to join us, please contact Barbara Bragg braggb@cvcc.vccs.edu (832-7672) and sign up. We'll feed you on tournament day, provide you with a FLL t-shirt, and be forever grateful. We look forward to hearing from you!