More than 1,000 high school students from 10 states to meet and compete on March 12-13

(BUSINESS WIRE) — March 9, 2010 — FIRST:

WHAT:		The 8th Annual FIRST® Robotics Competition Chesapeake Regional. The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual event that inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. High school students design and build robots to compete in a fast-paced sports-like challenge.
WHO:		Students on 49 high school teams from 10 states — including 24 teams from Maryland — will bring their robots to Baltimore to compete in this year’s FIRST Challenge, called BREAKAWAY. Teams score goals using soccer balls and finish each game with robots suspended in mid-air.
WHEN:		Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2010
		9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, free and open to the public
		(Note: Media are also welcome to attend the practice sessions on Thursday, March 11, also from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
WHERE:		Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street, Hall A
WHY:		Teams of high school students – supported by engineers, their teachers, and mentors – will compete in a series of challenges aimed at testing their robots, building alliances, cooperating in teams, and exercising gracious professionalism.

*Media should contact Neil Franz (240-687-0127) or Bill Duncan (410-350-5031) to arrange for a VIP tour or an interview with a FIRST spokesperson.

The 2010 FIRST Chesapeake Regional is presented by BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

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 support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and nearly $12 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org. For more information about the Chesapeake Regional, visit www.chesapeakefirst.org.

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Contact:

Neil Franz,
240-687-0127
Email Contact
or
Bill Duncan, FIRST
410-350-5031
Email Contact