RCC hosts NY high school students as they compete to qualify for First International Robotics Championship

Students learn problem-solving and teamwork in addition to designing and building robots by working with professional mentors to participate at the Hudson Valley Regional, March 7-9, 2024

High-school students from New York State, the UK and Turkey, including ten lower Hudson Valley area schools will have the opportunity to showcase their hard work after an intense six weeks of designing and building an original robot in the FIRST® Robotics Competition (www.firstinspires.org). This week, at Rockland Community College’s Eugene Levy Fieldhouse, 48 teams of students and engineering and technical mentors will demonstrate their skill for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They will compete for recognition that rewards design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities.

Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a robotics community preparing young people for the future. More than 1,000 students will compete at the Hudson Valley Regional to earn a spot at the international FIRST® Championship to be held April 17-20 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

FIRST Robotics Competition Hudson Valley Regional sponsors and volunteers come from some of the most highly regarded organizations in the area, including Veolia, Orange & Rockland, Con Ed, Optimum, BD, Gene Haas Foundation and Goosetown Communications. Sponsors provide resources including time and talent from professional mentors, services, equipment, financial contributions, and volunteers.

“We are honored and excited to be part of the FIRST Robotics Competition Hudson Valley Regional, which we see as a great opportunity to connect with Optimum-sponsored teams and learn about the science, technology, engineering, and math skills that they are gaining through the program,” said Vic Pascarelli, Vice President, General Manager of Optimum Northeast. “Optimum shares the same passion and commitment to making a positive difference in the communities we serve across the Hudson Valley, and we look forward to contributing to this inspiring event.”

“Our events are the culmination of countless hours of preparation by our teams of students, coaches, and mentors,” said Collin Fultz, senior program director of FIRST Robotics Competition, adding, “The event is part competition and part celebration of what our teams have achieved this year. While only a few teams at the event will be crowned champions, all our participants leave the season as better problem-solvers, more gracious professionals, and more prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.”

CRESCENDOSM presented by Haas is part of the 2024 FIRST IN SHOWSM presented by Qualcomm season. In CRESCENDO, teams are encouraged to see all that is possible when combining their creative ideas and innovations with engineering and design. Through collaboration and communication, our FIRST robotics community around the world will celebrate the role that the arts play in STEAM. Our skills make it possible to create art and experiences that bring us together, entertain us, and move us.

With a limited timeframe, students work with professional engineering mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a Kit of Parts and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

For more information about FIRST in New York State, please contact Janice Martino, Senior Regional Director at [email protected].