Capitol Hosts 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff

 

Contact: Kyle Anderson Marketing & Communications Coordinator 301-369-2800, ext. 3015 kdanderson@capitol-college.edu

 

 

LAUREL, MD (January 9, 2012) – Capitol was once again pleased to host the Maryland FIRST Robotics Competition’s (FRC) Kickoff Event on Saturday, Jan. 7, for the eighth consecutive year. More than 400 Maryland high school students representing 38 local high schools were in attendance.

 

Each year FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) sponsors an international robotics event, in which students compete in a common challenge. At the Chesapeake Regional Kickoff Event, teams of students were given the specifications and parameters of the competition, along with a set of pieces for constructing a robot. Each year’s competition is different, and students have six weeks to design and build their robots.

 

Because the FRC is broken up into regional competitions, students gather at various kickoff locations around the country and view a live stream of inventor Dean Kamen via NASA-TV’s live video feed from New Hampshire. Kamen explained this year’s competition to students in 73 locations across the world.

 

The Chesapeake Regional Competition will take place from March 8 to March 10 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The hands-on experience the students gain from developing, and eventually building their robots from scratch is invaluable for those looking to pursue careers in engineering or robotics.

 

“Capitol College has worked in partnership with FIRST Robotics in our shared mission of STEM outreach and student support,” George Walls, director of undergraduate recruiting and admissions, said. “Robotics students are a great fit for our college, so we will continue to reach out for the good of the community and of the institution.” Hosting the Chesapeake Regional Kickoff Event is one of the many ways in which Capitol College is attempting to further STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in Maryland. Capitol is the fourth largest provider of scholarships to FIRST students in the United States, with more than $500,000 in scholarship offers to date. In 2011, the college offered the Developing STEM Leaders and Emerging STEM Leaders programs to Capitol students and local community college students looking to pursue careers in STEM fields.

 

Capitol College is the only independent college in Maryland dedicated to education in engineering, computer science, information technology and business through practices of leadership and innovation. Founded in 1927, Capitol offers associate, bachelor’s and master's degrees, a Doctor of Science in Information Assurance, professional development training and certificates. Academic programs are grounded in centers of excellence; these include the Space Operations Institute, the Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center, the Innovation and Leadership Institute, and the Center for Space Science Education and Public Outreach. The college campus is located in Laurel, Maryland, a suburban setting midway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. www.capitol-college.edu.