The FIRST® Robotics Competition Microsoft Seattle Regional event will be held March 26 & 27, 2010 at KeyArena. FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRCTM) is an annual competition that helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering, and technology. In Washington, more than 2,000 high-school students from 63 high school teams will be competing. This year’s competition, named “Breakaway”, is played with two alliances of three teams which will compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with bumps, attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in goals. Additional bonus points will be earned for each robot suspended in air and not touching the field at the end of the match.

Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. FRC participants are eligible to receive over $12 million in scholarships from some of the finest science and engineering schools in the country. Research has shown that FIRST students’ attitudes about science, math, teamwork, and the working world significantly improved after participating. The students’ self image also improved, particularly in minority groups. In addition, interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring companies increased. FIRST is supported by a strong network of sponsors who provide funding, mentorship time, talent, volunteerism, equipment, and more.

FIRST programs are operated by over 85,000 dedicated volunteers worldwide, many of them professional engineers and scientists who mentor the next generation of innovators.

For more detailed information, please visit www.firstwa.org
 

Ticket Information

This event is free to the public.