Huntsville, Alabama will host a regional FIRST Robotics competition for the first time, March 24-26 in the South Hall of the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The “Rocket City Regional” is supported by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
Nearly 1,500 students from 11 states will compete in a medieval-themed game called “FIRST Stronghold,” where robots must storm castles, breach defenses, launch foam boulders and capture opposing towers.
Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. CDT, with qualification matches starting at 9 a.m. both Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26. The Friday awards ceremony will begin at 5:45 p.m., while the Saturday awards ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with hands-on educational activities provided by sponsors and exhibitors.
News media interested in covering the event should contact Angela Storey at 256-544-0034 no later than 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 23.
FIRST robotics, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” is a worldwide competition for students in grades 9-12 that inspires the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Nearly 75,000 students are expected to participate in 2016 FIRST Robotics events nationwide.
Each FIRST Robotics team received an identical kit of parts, along with a six-week deadline to design, build and test a robot – all with the help of adult mentors. District and regional competitions are then held across the country during March and April providing teams a chance to qualify for the 2016 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30 in St. Louis.
NASA and its Robotics Alliance Project provide grants for high school teams and support for FIRST Robotics Competitions across the country in an effort to address the critical national shortage of students pursuing STEM careers.
For Rocket City Regional event information, visit:
http://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2016/ALHU
For more information how Marshall Space Flight Center supports education programs, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/marshall/home/index.html
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Angela Storey
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.
256-544-0034
angela.d.storey@nasa.gov