Empowering future generations.

Federico Baldisserri is an engineer by trade, but his passion for innovation, design (and a little friendly competition) goes beyond his day job.

Kohler Engines in Reggio Emilia, Italy, recently hosted the First® LEGO® League competition, and Federico led the way as a mentor for a team of local students.

During the two-day event, more than 3,000 participants, families, associates, media and community members packed the facility to cheer on the teams. Thirty-two teams showcased intense creativity and skill in robotics projects constructed with hundreds of LEGO pieces.

Federico’s team of students from Veneto, Italy, made it to the national finals and won an award for most innovative technical project.

He explained, “It’s a great opportunity for the students, not only from a technical point of view, but also because they have to work as a team, present their projects and their robots in front of technical juries, they have to organize themselves, respect timetables, deal with different problems and fulfill their responsibilities. I think that at their young age all of this is very useful.”

For Frederico, a newer associate, the competition was also a way to connect with his coworkers over a shared eagerness to give back to their community.

“I enjoyed the enthusiastic atmosphere, and my team members were incredibly passionate and involved,” he said. “I also enjoyed getting to know my colleagues better. My involvement made me feel so much more a part of the company.”