Media Invited to Attend the FIRST(R) Robotics Competition Arizona Regional
Microchip Technology Inc.:
The FIRST(R) Robotics Competition Arizona Regional is a
high-school robotics competition that features teams of
students guided by their industry mentors as they compete in
an alliance of robots racing to complete their tasks within a
What: two-minute window. Prior to the regional competition, each
team has six weeks to design and build a robot. During the
"Logo Motion(TM)" game, the teams will drive their robots
across the playing field to hang shapes on a grid, then deploy
smaller robots to climb a pole for extra points.
Additional details:
-- 45 teams from Arizona, California, Mexico and New Mexico
will compete
-- Participating students are eligible to apply for more than
$14 million in scholarships
-- The winning alliance is eligible to go on to the FIRST
Championship in St. Louis, Mo. in April
The competition is free and open to the public. Spectators
-- must wear closed-toed shoes to view the pit, or robot
staging area
When: Competition - March 18-19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Media Preview - March 17, 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During the preview, the media is welcome to preview the
competition during robot unloading, event set up and practice
rounds. This pre-event activity is exclusive to the media and
is NOT open to the public.
Where: Hamilton High School
3700 S. Arizona Ave.
Chandler, AZ 85248
Media
Opportunities: Still and video photography are permitted, and shot
opportunities include:
-- Custom-built robots competing in fast-paced events
-- Festively dressed local students and their mentors putting
designs and skills to the test
-- Students interacting with volunteers
-- On-site teamwork, troubleshooting and problem solving
-- Spirit and excitement as students, families and friends
cheer for their local teams
Interview opportunities include:
-- FIRST(R) students and their mentors from the community
(available throughout the event)
-- Steve Sanghi (available from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday and
from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday)
Sanghi is president and CEO of Microchip Technology, co-chair
of the FIRST Arizona Regional Planning Committee, FIRST
sponsor and member of the FIRST Board of Directors.
Contacts: For more information and to RSVP:
Jessica Brown, Microchip Technology Inc. Public Relations
Specialist
Office: (480) 792-4386, email: jessica.brown@microchip.com
On-site during the event:
Carol Popovich, Arizona FIRST Regional Director
Cell: (480) 335-2091
More
To learn more about FIRST and the 2010 FIRST Robotics
Information: Competition, read below and visit
http://www.microchip.com/get/BH88.
About
FIRST's mission is to transform our culture by creating a
FIRST: world where science and technology are celebrated, and where
young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.
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 and engineering.
The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young
people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a
six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a
common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and
enter them in a series of competitions designed by Dean Kamen,
Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other
professionals. Students participating on FIRST teams are
eligible to apply for over $14 million in scholarships.
Chandler-based Microchip Technology Inc. is the Organizing
Sponsor and a Leader in Technology Sponsor of the FIRST
Robotics Competition 2011 Arizona Regional. To learn more
about Microchip, visit www.microchip.com.
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Note: FIRST is a registered trademark of FIRST in the U.S.A. and other countries. The Microchip name and logo is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies.
Source: Microchip Technology Inc.
Released March 15, 2011