Nearly 100 high school students from across Ohio and Pennsylvania will participate in the 15th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition global kickoff event. Nearly 75,000 students worldwide are eager for inventor Dean Kamen to unveil the 2016 Robotics Competition game: FIRST STRONGHOLDSM.
Media are invited to attend the kickoff, originating from Manchester, N.H., on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Cuyahoga Community College Unified Technologies Center, 2415 Woodland Avenue.
During the broadcast, FIRST Founder, Dean Kamen; FIRST Distinguished Advisor, Dr. Woodie Flowers; FIRST President, Donald E. Bossi; and FIRST students and special guests, will deliver remarks on video.
Students in grades 9-12 will be shown the new 2016 robotics game field and challenge for the first time and will receive an identical, new Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system and a mix of automation components – with limited instructions. Teams will have six weeks to design and build a robot to meet this year’s engineering challenge.
Once these young inventors build a robot, their teams will participate in one or more of the regional and district events that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students.
In Cleveland, teams compete with their robots in the Buckeye Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, March 18-19, at Cleveland State University Wolstein Center – all leading up to the 2016 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30 in St. Louis.
Teams registered to attend the kickoff are:
Austintown Fitch High School, Austintown, Ohio
Avon High School, Avon, Ohio
Beachwood High School, Beachwood, Ohio
Berea-Midpark High School, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Canfield High School, Canfield, Ohio
Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, Ohio
Constellation Schools Parma Community, Parma, Ohio
EHOVE Career Center, Milan, Ohio
Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, Ohio
Girard High School, Girard, Ohio
Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Highland High School, Medina, Ohio
Hoover High School – North Canton City Schools, North Canton, Ohio
Hubbard High School, Hubbard, Ohio
Lorain High School, Lorain, Ohio
Marion L. Steele High School, Amherst, Ohio
Marlington High School, Alliance, Ohio
MC2STEM High School, Cleveland, Ohio
Neighborhood Group, Archbold, Ohio
Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Erie, Pennsylvania
Orange High School, Pepper Pike, Ohio
St. Edward High School, Lakewood, Ohio
St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, Ohio
Warren G. Harding High School, Warren, Ohio
Youth Technology Academy, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that challenges high school students, working alongside professional mentors, to construct a robot of their own, and compete in the ultimate Sport for the MindTM that measures the effectiveness of each robot, the power of teamwork and collaboration, and teams’ display of Gracious Professionalism® – a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others and respects individuals and the community.
Through their participation, students experience the excitement of science, engineering, technology and innovation; build well-rounded life capabilities such as self-confidence, communication and leadership; and qualify for over $25 million in college scholarships.
Media representatives interested in attending the kickoff should contact Jeannette Owens by email at jeannette.p.owens@nasa.gov or by phone at 216-433-2990 or 216-387-1327 to arrange for student interviews.
To learn more about the Buckeye Regional FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff, visit:
http://www.oai.org/firstbuckeye/kickoff.html
To learn more about FIRST, visit:
