EWU to host FIRST Robotics Competition Central/Eastern Washington kickoff event

Washington FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics announced in a news release it will launch the 2016 competiton season with a worldwide kickoff event on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Eastern Washington University in Showalter Hall on the Cheney campus, 526 Fifth St. from 7 a.m. to noon.

The kickoff event will include 31 teams. This event is one of 114 total kickoff events taking place worldwide.

The 2016 season will include more than 158 teams, (4,500 students) grades 9-12, participating in nine district events which will culminate in the Pacific Northwest District Championships at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore., April 6 -9.

Teams will be shown the FIRST Stronghold game field and challenge details for the first time at the kickoff event. They will receive a kit of parts made up of motors, batteries, control system components, construction materials, and a mix of additional automation components – with limited instructions.

Teams will have six weeks to design and build a robot to meet this year's engineering challenge and will compete against other FIRST Robotics Competition teams beginning in March.

Washington FIRST Robotics is a nonprofit organization that ignites youthful minds through education, hard work, mentorship and healthy competition. Currently there are over 11,000 young people participating throughout the state with over 6,000 coaches, mentors and volunteers.

In the four after school programs: FIRST LEGO League Jr. (ages 6 – 9); FIRST LEGO League (ages 9 -14); FIRST Tech Challenge (grade 7 – 12); FIRST Robotics Competition (grade 9-12) young people are exposed to and are inspired to build on their passions to prepare them to be the STEM leaders of tomorrow.

For more information on the FRC competitions please go to: http://www.firstwa.org/Calendar.aspx.