11 Mar 2014 Announcing March Robot Madness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Melissa Ashcraft
KC STEM Alliance
816-392-8682
ashcraftme@kcstem.org
Announcing March Robot Madness.
It’s a whole new ball game at the
Greater Kansas City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition
March 13 -15, 2014
Kansas City, Mo. (March 6, 2014) See action-packed, fast-paced matches between student-operated robots at the Greater Kansas City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition, March 13 – 15 at MCC Business & Technology, 1775 Universal Ave, Kansas City, MO. The public is encouraged to attend and catch the excitement of this intense competition. Admission is free.
More than 1,100 high school students representing 58 teams from around the Kansas City region and surrounding states will have the opportunity to showcase their original robots. Teams have just six weeks to build a robot to compete using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules provided by FIRST.
Once these young inventors create the robot, working side-by-side with professional engineering mentors, teachers and coaches, regional competition will measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.
The 2014 game, AERIAL ASSIST℠, is played by two Alliances of three teams each. Alliances compete by trying to score as many balls in goals as possible during a two-minute and 30-second match. Additional points are earned by robots working together to score goals, and by throwing and catching balls over a truss suspended just over five feet above the floor as they move the ball down the field.
“FIRST is about more than competing, it’s about cooperating. If you give kids the right tools, the right motivation, they can make their world a better place,” said Laura Loyacono, Director of KC STEM Alliance, a presenting sponsor of the event. “It’s inspiring to see these students. The future problem-solvers and creators—our future STEM workforce.”
This year’s competition will greet a special guest. Dr. Woodie Flowers is the Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Distinguished Partner at Olin College. Dr. Flowers participates in the design of the FIRST Robotics Competition game each year. He has served as a National Advisor to FIRST since the inception of the FIRST Robotics Competition. Dr. Flowers will be available for interviews on Friday, March 14.
This season, participating FIRST students are eligible to apply for more than $19 million in scholarships from 150 scholarship providers. Teams participating in the Greater Kansas City Regional FIRST Robotics Competition will vie for regional awards and a spot at the FIRST Championship to be held April 23-26, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo.
The event will also include EXPOS by Jr. FIRST LEGO League, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge. Admission is free. Parking is free. Some of Kansas City’s most popular Food Trucks will be on site.
For more information or to schedule a student-led tour visit kcfirst.org.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Thursday, March 13 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Practice Rounds (Break, Noon – 1)
Friday, March 14 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies
9:00 a.m. –5:45 p.m. – Qualification Matches (Break, Noon -1)
5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
Saturday, March 15 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Qualification Matches
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Final Rounds
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
About 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, engineering and math. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $19 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3. To learn more visit usfirst.org.
KC STEM Alliance supports local schools and the community by assisting in the implementation of FIRST programs through KC FIRST. To learn more visit kcstem.org
###