press release |
Building For The Future: Creative Forming Helps Form Future Problem-Solvers |
Ripon, WIsconsin, May 2006 - Creative Forming, Inc. not only touts its engineering capabilities in providing their customers with innovative thermoformed packaging solutions, the company also supports its home community by being one of the sponsors for Ripon’s FIRST LEGO® League program. Additionally, a number of Creative Forming’s engineers function as coaches for this youth science and technology enrichment program.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO® League or FLL is a competitive problem solving program for girls and boys ages 9-14 that emphasizes teamwork, creativity, science and technology. The program helps children discover the fun in science and technology in a real-world, hands-on, problem solving setting while also building self-confidence, leadership, and life skills.
The FIRST LEGO® League program is set up to put children in charge. Teams mix curiosity and imagination with LEGO® bricks, sensors, motors and gears to invent unique programmable robots capable of completing various missions. The main objectives of the program are to:
- Teach children to apply math and science concepts to research, design, build and program autonomous robots using LEGO® MINDSTORMS technologies
- Provide a fun, creative, hands-on learning experience that engages kids in a playful and meaningful learning environment.
- Impart teamwork skills valuable for now and in the future workplace
- Challenge kids to solve real-world engineering problems using robotics
- Encourage participation in tournaments and present their solutions to a panel of judges
- Build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills
- Make positive contributions to society
- Discover career possibilities for the future
Murray Park Elementary in Ripon has its own FIRST LEGO League team, the “FROGS” - First Robot On-task Gadget Systems and has participated in the program for the past two years.
Each fall, based on a theme, teams research a problem and present their solution as one part of the competition. They then use a LEGO® Mindstorms Robotic Invention System to strategize, design, build, program and test their robot to accomplish defined tasks on a competition table.
“FIRST introduces problem solving to kids and promotes technological career possibilities in the future,” states Dave Schoff, Design Engineer, Creative Forming and FROGS Coach / Program Coordinator for FIRST LEGO® League of Ripon. “The goal of the program is to introduce kids to creative problem solving and professionalism where they respect, cooperate, work together, and interact as a team.”
Creative Forming, Inc., in sponsoring the FIRST LEGO® League of Ripon, supports the local community which benefits not only the league but also the company as well. The benefits of sponsorship include building a technologically literate workforce, increased employee volunteerism, employee team building and training opportunities. It also fuels renewed inspiration to company engineers and employees while strengthening the company's reputation in the community.
“We believe that getting kids involved in science and technology is good for everyone. The workplace of today and of the future relies on a group of creative individuals who are comfortable solving problems in a team setting. This program helps make way for our future problem solvers,” states Marc DeGroot, Manager, Marketing and Customer Support.
About Creative Forming, Inc.
Located in Ripon, WI, Creative Forming and its extrusion division ALPHATEC EXTRUSION®, offer state-of-the-art extrusion expertise and custom thermoforming solutions to the consumer products, food packaging, and food service industries throughout the United States.
For more information, please contact:
Marc DeGroot
Creative Forming, Inc.
100 Creative Way
Ripon, WI 54971
(920) 748-7285