By MATT LINDSEY

NORWOOD — The Norwood-Norfolk Lego Robotics team Lego Allies won the Lego League Animal Allies challenge advancing them to the Lego League North American Open Championship at Legoland in Carlsbad, Calif., on May 19.

The Board of Education approved a trip Tuesday for nine students and two chaperones, Norwood-Norfolk Central Superintendent Jamie Cruickshank said. A student advisor, NNCS salutatorian Kyle Fulk, will also make the trip.

The team earned the trip by placing first at Lego League Animal Allies challenge held at Clarkson University in January.

The Animal Hero’s, also from Norwood-Norfolk Central, were presented the research award for their project about keeping dogs and wildlife safe.

The Lego Allies won the Champion's Award, which is presented to a team who demonstrates the core values and achieve excellence and innovation in both the robot game and project. The team worked together to create a project that looks at how people can help horses in need and use them as therapy animals to help humans in areas such as psychotherapy, hippotherapy and through therapeutic riding.

The trip will be funded through a grant and donations.

“There were a few generous donations made and there was some leftover money from a grant that provided after school and summer activities,” Cruickshank said. “Nothing will touch the budget.”

NNCS has competed in robotics competitions for about six or seven years.

Students build robots that then must complete pre-assigned tasks.

“They are timed, make presentations and are judged on teamwork as well,” Cruickshank said.

“This is an exceptional honor for our students who are pretty excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.