Kettering University's LEGO masterpiece won the Second Annual College Town Lego Competition Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Flint Institute of Arts.

The Kettering team's interpretation of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' took top bragging rights over Baker College, Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint.

"It was interesting to see our childhood LEGO roots come around full circle," said Tyler Finnegan, a senior from Elyria, Ohio.  "Some skills you just never forget.  It feels really cool to get involved with other colleges and scope out their Lego engineering expertise."

Kettering's student team members are:
Nikki Findlay of San Angelo, Texas,
Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio,
Aaron Hoffman of Gurnee, Ill.,
Racquel Lovelace of Harlingen, Texas,
David Richelson of Tuscon, Ariz.

The Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) hosted the annual “Create Your Own Masterpiece” intercollegiate Lego challenge.  Judges awarded the top prize to Kettering's entry, but voters are able to vote on the People’s Choice Award at http://www.flintarts.org/college_town/events.html

The event is organized by FIA’s College Town Student Advisory Council, which is advised by FIA's Janice Henry.  She said this is the only artistic team competition for students from the four institutions in Flint.  Each five-member team is invited to design and create sculptures on site during the three-hour event. The completed Lego masterpieces remain on public view in the FIA Lobby through Feb. 26.

Henry also noted that this year a junior Lego competition was added for students in grades K-12.

Last year's Lego event attracted around 900 viewers.  Henry estimated that this year's crowd may have reached 2,000.

For more information about this and other events at the Flint Institute of Arts visit www.flintarts.org or (810) 234-1695.

See more Lego coverage in the Flint Journal. For more photos of the event, visit Kettering University on facebook.