In 2008, PTC served as the Collaboration Partner of FIRST, hosting a Windchill® system that was actively used by more than 100 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams to manage their projects, including two teams that won Rookie All Star awards, team #2387 from the Columbus Alternative High School in Columbus, Ohio and team #2377, Chesapeake High School, Pasadena, Maryland. Windchill allows teams working from any location to securely control, store, and access all competition information in a single location. PTC also made Pro/ENGINEER® Schools Edition (3D CAD software) and Mathcad® (engineering calculation software) available to all FIRST Robotics Competition teams.
As part of its 2009 sponsorship, PTC will co-sponsor the FRC Kickoff event and will co-sponsor ten new teams with PTC customers and eight regional events in Boston, MA, Dallas, TX, Michigan, Minneapolis, MN, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, San Jose, CA and Tel Aviv, Israel. These locations were selected in part because of their proximity to PTC customers as well as large populations of PTC employees who are encouraged to participate as team mentors, coaches and event volunteers. The company is also sponsoring scholarship funds to be awarded to students interested in studying STEM disciplines at the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology.
Additionally, all participating FRC teams will again be offered the opportunity to use PTC Windchill, Pro/ENGINEER and Mathcad schools editions. PTC will model the FRC kit of parts in Pro/ENGINEER and make it available to teams when the game is unveiled at the FRC Kickoff January 3, 2009. Additionally, through PTC University, PTC is providing 37 free Web-based training courses on Pro/ENGINEER, Windchill and Mathcad for all FIRST Teams. PTC is proud to support an organization embraced by many of its customers that actively support FIRST as suppliers, mentors and volunteers. In partnership with PTC/USER, the independent voice of PTC customers worldwide, PTC is promoting FIRST to its network of more than 50,000 customers and has made its software partners and Value Added Resellers (over 800) aware of the opportunity to get involved.
“We’re excited to recognize PTC’s expanded relationship with FIRST as a second year sponsor and the highest level supplier – Crown level – of the FIRST Robotics Competition,” said Paul R. Gudonis, president, FIRST. “When a company expands sponsorship, particularly during challenging economic times, it reinforces the value that FIRST provides to the students and the sponsors in multiple ways. Firstly, it demonstrates that the programs are achieving their objectives by attracting more teams and sponsors. Secondly, it shows the students that industry is committed to investing time, resources and technology to help them to develop the technology and life skills that will help them to succeed in their future careers.”
James Heppelmann, executive vice president and chief product officer, PTC, is serving as a member of the national FIRST executive advisory board. “The FIRST experience leaves an indelible impression on all participants – students, coaches, mentors, volunteers and sponsors. The enthusiasm of the teams in the pit areas is contagious and watching the students work together, pooling skills and resources to help each team compete, is inspiring,” said Heppelmann. “The ability to collaborate and share information across teams and boundaries is a critical success factor for product development organizations. FIRST is helping to develop the skilled technology workforce of the future and PTC is proud to continue sponsorship of this important initiative.”
To learn more about this exciting partnership, cosponsor a team with PTC, or how to get free software for your team, please visit www.ptc.com/go/frc.
About FIRST
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. With the support of many of the world's most well-known
companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST
Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school
students, the FIRST LEGO ® League for
children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6
to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST , go to
www.usfirst.org .
