Massachusetts Robotics Competition on Campus

Worcester, Mass.— The 2006 Massachusetts FIRST Vex Challenge Robotics Competition will be hosted by Quinsigamond Community College this Saturday, December 9th.   Fourteen robotics teams, nearly 100 teens, from around the state will vie for the chance to compete at the First Vex National Championship in Atlanta next April, 2007.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Vex Challenge is a robotics competition for middle and high school students.  Students in teams design, assemble, and test a robot capable of performing a specified task.  Its goal is to provide young people access to the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.

“This is only the second year the First Vex Competition has existed, so we are excited to host the 2006 Massachusetts official championship,” stated Betty Lauer, the competition organizer and coordinator of the Computer Systems Engineering Technology Program at QCC.  “The ‘thanks’ goes to QCC and EMC Corporation for their support, which allows the area high schools to participate.”

EMC has provided funding that will pay for the competition operating costs, which includes the $300 for each robotics kit needed, security and maintenance expenses, trophies, and the food provided students during the day.

FIRST  is a multinational non-profit organization, that aspires to make science, math, engineering, and technology “cool” for kids.  Current local schools participating in the FIRST Vex Challenge on Saturday include Wachusett Regional High School, Marlborough’s “Redline Robotics” team, and a middle school team from Jefferson, Ma.