Westside Wins Innovation Award

On February 28, the Westside Lego League team headed to Bloomington, MN, to compete in a regional tournament. While their robot performance was strong, it was the team’s passion for local history that truly stole the show.

We are thrilled to announce that the Westside team brought home the prestigious Innovation Project Award for their outstanding work on a project close to home: the historic River Falls lime kiln.

A Project with Purpose

The Innovation Project challenge requires teams to identify a real-world problem and design an original solution. The Westside students chose to focus on the preservation of the historic lime kiln—a hidden gem of River Falls history that has faced the wear and tear of time and vandalism.

The students didn't just stop at building a model; they took their ideas straight to the decision-makers.

Taking it to City Hall

The tournament judges were particularly impressed by the team’s community outreach. Prior to the competition, the students visited City Hall to present their research and restoration ideas to the River Falls Historical Preservation Commission.

During the meeting, the students discussed the kiln’s historical significance and proposed creative strategies to address issues like graffiti and structural decay. The Commission was so impressed by the students’ professionalism and depth of knowledge that they didn't just offer praise—they took action.

The Historical Preservation Commission has officially decided to make the preservation of the lime kiln a formal action item for the coming year!

Winning the Innovation Project Award

By bridging the gap between STEM and civic engagement, the Westside Lego League demonstrated exactly what this program is about: using technology and teamwork to make the world (and our town) a better place.

The judges in Bloomington recognized this extraordinary effort, naming Westside the winners of the Innovation Project Award. This award recognizes a team that utilizes diverse resources to formulate an innovative solution and shares that solution with those who can benefit from it.