At July 29’s Aurora City Council meeting, mayor John Laesch honored six Aurora students for finishing in second place at an international LEGO tournament in Massachusetts last month.
From June 11 through June 14, Team Timeless, which is comprised of seventh-grade student Adhrit Chivali, third-grade student Siddharth Chavali, seventh-grade student Ananya Kovvuri, seventh-grade student Aditya Kovvuri, seventh-grade student Jaivarshan Annamalai, and seventh-grade student Girivarshan Annamalai, competed among 108 elite teams representing 44 U.S. states and over 60 countries at the WPI Annual FLL Event (WAFFLE). The team earned the prestigious Champion’s Finalist Award, which is considered one of the highest honors available in the FIRST LEGO League Open competition circuit.
Team Timeless’s journey began with over 510 other teams across the State of Illinois. The team advanced through the qualifier and sectional rounds as first-place champions, placed fourth overall at the Illinois State Championship, and was ultimately selected to represent the State on the international stage.
At the tournament, the team developed an AI-powered application using image recognition to help archaeologists quickly identify potential stone artifacts. Team members worked closely with experts to refine the application based on real feedback. This application was also featured in the Native American Hall at the Elgin Public Museum to demonstrate how AI can support archaeology and help preserve history.
“This is amazing work,” mayor John Laesch said. “I really appreciate the team’s dedication, success, and commitment to excellence. Team Timeless has proudly represented Aurora, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The six-member team, including the team’s youngest participant, eight-year-old Siddharth Chavali, stood as some of the youngest participants in the entire competition. Through their commitment to the FIRST LEGO League Core Values, Team Timeless’s exceptional performance earned the admiration of both the international judging panel and audiences alike.
—City of Aurora government