20,000 K-12 Students Compete in the World’s Oldest, Largest Robotics Celebration: FIRST® Championship
FIRST Combines the Excitement of Sport with the Rigors of Science and
Technology
–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#FIRSTChamp—FIRST®
WHO
-
Dean Kamen, accomplished inventor and founder of FIRST
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) -
More than 20,000 students in grades K-12 from over 30 countries and
their custom-built robots competing in timed matches and making
adjustments on-the-fly in racecar-like pits -
Attendance: more than 40,000 students, friends, parents, Mentors,
Coaches, Volunteers and Sponsors
WHAT
-
The annual FIRST Championship is the culmination for student
teams who participated in regional competitions held around the
world -
During heart-pounding, high-energy matches, students will put their
custom-built robots to the test with the help of Mentors and
professional engineers -
The final nail-biting rounds of the FIRST® Robotics
Competition showdowns start Saturday afternoon, April 30 -
FIRST Championship offers three levels of competition and one
student exhibition for students ages 6-18:-
FIRST® LEGO®
League Jr. World Festival Expo (ages 6-9) -
FIRST® LEGO®
League World Festival (ages 9-14; 9-16 outside the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico) -
FIRST® Tech Challenge
World Championship (ages 12-18) -
FIRST® Robotics
Competition Championship (ages 14-18)
-
High school students who participate in FIRST programs – FIRST
Tech Challenge and FIRST
Robotics Competition – can apply for more than $25
million in college scholarships
STORY LEADS INCLUDE:
-
Educators Changing Students’ Lives – Educators, Mentors,
industry leaders and professionals involved in FIRST come
together to make a difference in students’ lives, providing
mentorship, leadership and hard and soft skills that translate to the
real world. -
Support from National Sponsors – More than 200 Fortune 500
corporations provide resources that help FIRST offer
accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge
and life skills while motivating young people to pursue pathways to
prosperity, including opportunities in STEM. -
Improving Lives Through Innovation – FIRST teams tackle
real-world problems to create innovative solutions that improve
people’s lives and will impact future industries. -
Millions in Higher Education – FIRST is the only
not-for-profit that offers more than $25 million in college
scholarships. -
Dean Kamen Flies in an Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber to Kick
Off 2016 Championship Week (4/26) – Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST,
has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly in a B-2 Spirit
bomber. Media alert: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160419006232/en
WHEN & WHERE
The competition will take place in four
different locations across St. Louis:- The Dome at America’s Center
- America’s Center
- The Marriott Grand Hotel
- Union Station
April 27-30, St. Louis (all times CT) Wednesday, April 27 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Marriot St. Louis Grand Hotel FIRST Innovation Faire 1:45–3:30 p.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches Thursday, April 28 8–11:30 a.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Robotics Competition Qualification Matches 8:30 a.m.–3:40 p.m. – America’s Center FIRST LEGO League Practice Matches 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. – Marriot St. Louis Grand Hotel
FIRST Innovation Faire and Scholarship Row 12:30–3:15 p.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches 6–7:30 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Championship Welcome Ceremony Friday, April 29 8–11:30 a.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Robotics Competition Qualification Matches 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. – America’s Center FIRST LEGO League Competition Matches 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. – Union Station FIRST LEGO League Jr. Expo 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. – Marriot St. Louis Grand Hotel FIRST Innovation Faire and Scholarship Row 12:30–2 p.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches Saturday, April 30 8 a.m.–12 p.m. – Marriot St. Louis Grand Hotel FIRST Innovation Faire and Scholarship Row 8–11 a.m. – Union Station FIRST LEGO League Jr. World Festival Expo 8–11 a.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Qualification Matches 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Robotics Competition Sub-Division Playoff Matches 12:30–3 p.m. – Union Station FIRST Tech Challenge Elimination Matches and Competition
Awards2:30–5 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Robotics Competition Championship Matches and Awards 6:30–9:00 p.m. – The Dome at America’s Center FIRST Championship Closing Ceremony and Finale Link to full spectator schedule: http://www.firstchampionship.org/championship-schedule#block-system-main
HOW
Media must have a press pass in order to attend. Please
RSVP to jberman@conecomm.com
and register at: http://www.firstchampionship.org/media-registrationAbout FIRST®
Accomplished
inventor Dean
Kamen founded FIRST®
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to
inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based
in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative
programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while
motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology,
and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies
and more than $25 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit
organization hosts the FIRST®
Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST®
Tech Challenge for Grades 7-12; FIRST®
LEGO® League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST®
LEGO® League Jr. for Grades K-3. Gracious
Professionalism® is a way of doing things that
encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and
respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST,
go to www.firstinspires.orgFIRST and the FIRST logo are registered trademarks of the
United States Foundation For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology (FIRST). LEGO® is a registered trademark of
The LEGO Group.Contacts
For FIRST®
Jamie Berman, 781-775-0347
jberman@conecomm.com
or
Aaron
Pickering, 508-951-0919
apickering@conecomm.com -
FIRST® LEGO®
