will.i.am, U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, rock band Boys Like Girls, singer-songwriter Christina Grimmie, Government Officials, NASA Engineers, and Top Inventors On Hand to “Make it Loud” and Celebrate Student Achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math During World’s-Largest Robotics Event in St. Louis
Championship Presenting Sponsor Qualcomm Incorporated, will.i.am, and Dean Kamen cheered on young innovators from 40 countries as their robots took to the playing fields at the annual robotics championship
ST. LOUIS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 26, 2015 — This week, more than 18,000 students from around the globe traveled to St. Louis, Mo., put their engineering skills to the test at the annual FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship, held at various venues throughout the city.
The four-day FIRST® Championship event came down to a heart-pounding conclusion in front of a roaring crowd of more than 40,000 when four teams from League City, Texas, and Davis, Clovis, and Palmdale, California of the Newton Subdivision won the coveted FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) Championship Winning Alliance. (Photo: Business Wire)
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The four-day event came down to a heart-pounding conclusion Saturday night in front of a roaring crowd of more than 40,000 when four teams from League City, Texas, and Davis, Clovis, and Palmdale, California of the Newton Subdivision won the coveted FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) Championship Winning Alliance. In this year’s recycling-themed game, RECYCLE RUSHSM, FRC teams took to the field, where competing Alliances scored points by stacking totes on scoring platforms, capping those stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of pool noodles, representing litter. In keeping with the recycling theme of the game, all game pieces used are reusable or recyclable by teams in their home locations or by FIRST at the end of the season.
In all, over 18,000 students, ages 6 to 18, participated in the Championship events in St. Louis.
Selected Quotes:
- FIRST Founder Dean Kaman urged students to inspire the world and to use what they’ve learned from their FIRST Mentors and Coaches as a tool: “Don’t leverage your experience here as a privilege but rather a responsibility,” he said. “We expect you to go off to college and give; go off to industry and give. Figure out how to reach people who are not already your friends or your neighbors. Get a little out of your comfort zone and help us bring a more diverse community to FIRST.”
- “What you kids in all FIRST programs are able to achieve in a short a period of time is truly astounding. I am overwhelmed by the amount of teamwork you display and the results you deliver,” said FIRST President Donald E. Bossi.
- “I had incredible teachers who showed me the magic of science and technology by letting me do it myself. That’s what FIRST is all about,” said Megan Smith, U.S. Chief Technology Officer.
Among the participants, many U.S. and international FIRST student robotics teams earned honors for design excellence, competitive play, research, business plans, website design, teamwork, and partnerships. A not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
In St. Louis, more than 900 teams from 40 countries competed in the four FIRST programs: FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®, grades 4 to 8, 9 to 14-year-olds in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico; 9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico); FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®, grades 7 to 12, 12 to 18-year-olds); and FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®, grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18). In addition to the high-energy robotics matches, 60 teams of 6 to 9-year-olds participated in the Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®, grades K-3), World Festival Expo.
The Dr. Bart Kamen Memorial Scholarships were given to:
- Tyler Brinton, FRC Team 195, Cyber Knights, Plantsville, Conn.
- Sheridan Rea, FRC Team 1388, Eagle Robotics, Grover Beach, Calif.
- Noah Shields, FRC Team 1676, Pascack Pi-oneers, Ringwood, N.J.
- Mayuri Viswanathan, FRC Team 2383, Ninjineers, Cooper City, Fla.
