The Gizmo Gang

06/14/2022

Gizmo Gang will be competing at the FIRST Lego League Global Innovation Awards competition. Show your support by tuning into their pitch and cast your vote for the Community Choice Award.

Cast your vote for your favorite pitch for the 2022 FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award presented by Qualcomm Community Choice Award.  These Finalists and Showcase teams developed innovative solutions as part of the CARGO CONNECT season.  You may vote once per day during open voting between ...

05/07/2022

As part of the CARGO CONNECTSM Challenge, FIRST® LEGO® League teams from more than 110 countries identified a problem related to improving the transportation journey of products. Teams went on to r…

05/05/2022

Big Hello from the Gizmo Gang. The Gang had an awesome time at the World Championship competition. We came home with an unforgettable experience now even more energized than ever before! That energy is now transformed in getting ready for another National competition, the Global Innovation Award. The Gizmo Gang team was selected as the top 20 Finalist from tens of thousands of teams from around the World on their innovative project, The HAGL Dispenser and Tote System. The team will present their research and innovation to patent and industry leaders, later this summer in St. Louis, Missouri. Thank you all who helped make Worlds possible!

04/17/2022

These kids are everywhere! If you want to see one more interview check this out. https://www.wowt.com/2022/04/15/omaha-area-4-h-team-go-world-championship-stem-competition/

04/15/2022

We are on the home stretch! FIRST World Championship Festival here we come and we are SO excited!! Our fundraising goal has been to fund the registration, participation materials, transportation and room stay for each student participating. We are getting close to that goal. We owe a HUGE thank you to Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Terry and Linda Wolfe, Friend of Extension & 4-H Douglas/Sarpy County Foundation, ASME, Douglas/Sarpy County 4-H Council and Westside Community Club!!! Thank you so very much for your generous sponsorship!

04/15/2022

Breaking news…
Tune into Pure Nebraska to hear Gizmo Gang's story by our new friend, Jon Vanderfold!!

A Nebraska 4-H FIRST Lego League team from Omaha earned top honors at the Nebraska State Championship. The team’s idea for improving the transportation of cargo is getting some attention as a solution for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

04/15/2022

Check out the Gizmo Gang hard at work this last weekend. These kids have put their heart and soul into making their dreams come true!

Thank you ALL that came out to support these kids! We are incredibly grateful for your tremendous support! A special heartfelt thank you to Scott and Pam Kurz and Jeremy Kurz for helping bring in business, shining cars and being the official photographer!!!

04/01/2022

If you scroll down to District news the team has a story in the Westside pride. They didn’t mention Grace since she is an OPS student. She was recognized at their meeting last month. We are so proud of the team and all their hard work. If you would like to help support them there is more information on the GoFundMe page https://gofund.me/b78e0bd2. Thanks so much to our friends family and community for your support.

https://www.smore.com/nmtda-westside-pride

Westside Pride April 2022

03/31/2022

Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Lobbyists,

The Gizmo Gang, FIRST Lego League Robotics team, is passionate about saving our environment and we need your help. We are looking to advance our innovative project idea any way we can.

After talking with 16 experts through the supply chain, including Procter & Gamble and Seventh Generation, the idea generated was a bulk refillable dispenser and tote system that would deliver laundry detergent in bulk 330-gallon Cage Buster totes to the consumer. Our working proof of concept model of a dispenser would dispense the detergent to consumers who bring refillable jugs to the store.

The bulk refill system would have a significant impact to help slow climate change by reducing the CO2 to the atmosphere. Using one Midwestern grocery store that sells about 2 million 92-oz jugs of Tide every year, using this bulk refill system would reduce the CO2 emission by 122 tons and reduce the number of trucks on the road by 151. In addition, one Cage Buster tote reused 40 times would divert 18,360 92-oz jugs going to the landfill or having to be made. Only 8% of plastic is recycled, so just think if this was scaled to the whole US or the World. This idea will have a phenomenal impact on climate change that every consumer can participate in with little or no impact to them.

Our dispenser can be implemented quickly, and we have a vending machine manufacturer, Technik Mfg., Inc, on-board that could build a dispenser to pilot test in stores.

There are many business models that could be used to advance the idea. The team would be happy to discuss our findings to help you with any ideas you have, invest to bring to life our pilot dispenser or help lobby the government for grants to advance the idea.

Help us act on the greenhouse gas and plastic problems, to save our environment through this bulk refill system.

03/23/2022

Take a listen to our coach Kevin talking about our team.

Interview with Kevin Thernes

03/23/2022

The team spent a few hours this weekend helping Keeping Omaha Beautiful. They are working hard to help clean up the community. If you would like to help support the team make it to Houston please visit their GoFundMe page. https://gofund.me/b78e0bd2 Make sure you watch the video to see what they are all about. Thank you for your support.