MSHSL Adds Support For Robot Competitions

Aug 25

Northland Sports Online

Minnesota State Fairgrounds – August 25, 2011 — Recognizing the importance of science and math extracurricular activities, the Minnesota State High School League announced today that its Board of Directors has voted to partner with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in supporting robotics competitions. The announcement was made by Executive Director Dave Stead at a news conference on the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Day at the Fair.

In Carousel Park outside of the Grandstand today, schools, organizations and companies showed how to engage in STEM after school. Hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations entertained and educated Fair fans. Information about future employment trends and educational opportunities in STEM fields was available. There were also robot competitions involving FIRST high school teams from Minneapolis Washburn and Woodbury’s Math and Science Academy, as well as Courage Center, in the Education Building at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Each day, up to four FIRST Robotics Competition teams will test their current year’s robot against unique, obstacle-course-like trials inside the Education Building (Cosgrove Street). All FIRST Robots are on display throughout the fair, and competitions are scheduled at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m

This new partnership will make the FIRST Robotics Competition, which has 131 teams throughout Minnesota, more mainstream in Minnesota’s high schools by giving it the status and statewide cohesiveness of other popular extracurricular activities. In a broader sense, it will help FIRST to realize its vision of a world in which young people dream of becoming our future science and technology leaders.

Minnesota is well poised to make FIRST Robotics Competition a mainstream program because it has the fourth-largest state contingent of teams in the nation and hosts the largest of the more than 50 FIRST Robotics Competition regional events. This event consistently fills Williams and Mariucci Arenas on the University of Minnesota campus with a combined total of 123 teams.

In its partnership, the League will promote the FIRST Robotics Competition among Minnesota high schools, support a state championship for which teams qualify at FIRST Robotics Competition regional competitions in March, and provide teams the same prominence of other League activities within their schools.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is a high school level program of FIRST, a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit based in Manchester, New Hampshire. Dubbed a “varsity sport for the mind,” FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real world” engineering that a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

FIRST was founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 to inspire America’s young people to pursue future careers in science and technology by creating the same levels of fun, recognition, and celebration that students experience from participating on major high school athletic teams. The FIRST Robotics Competition has 2,072 teams nationwide and completed its 20th season in 2011. Minnesota’s FIRST Robotics Competition has grown from just two to 131 teams during the past five years.

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