For some people, LEGO is a toy. For 9-year-old Bennett Hills of North Richland Hills, LEGO is a way to build a dream.
"I started having this dream of being a LEGO master, and I've wanted to accomplish that," Hills said. "I dreamed of that when I was like 7, so now years later, I'm already in the national competition. So it gets me steps closer to that dream!"
Hills is one of 12 finalists for LEGO''s 'North America's Mini Master Model Builder' contest.
"Just his passion and his enthusiasm for LEGO is just, it's infectious," Master Model Builder Thad Bennett said. "Seeing how excited he is and all of his ideas."
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"At first, I thought I'd just use green plates and use that longhorn," Hills said explaining his Dallas/Fort Worth landmark-themed LEGOscape. "So I decided to use some of those so it could be recognizable."
Hills' build includes Reunion Tower, the Stockyards, and even construction cranes.
"To represent, like, the growth in the Dallas/Fort Worth area," Hills said. "Then last, but not least, I have my family right here; my mom, my dad, my brother, and me, and our bicycles."
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Hill's LEGO mom is holding a camera.
"She likes it," Hills said. "She's gonna like it even more if it wins!"
Judging is done through online voting. The finalist with the most 'likes' on his/her photo wins.
For more information on how you can vote for Bennett Hills, click here. Voting ends Monday, July 10 at 9:00 a.m.