Over 1,000 FIRST ® Students Across Thirteen Western States Compete in Super Regional Championship to Exercise the Sport of the Mind!

KENT, Wash., March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Very few athletes will ever compete in a Super Bowl but what sport can every young person go pro in? The sport of science, technology, engineering and math. Over 1,000 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge young people ages 7-12th grade will be competing Friday, March 10 - Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the FIRST Tech Challenge West Super-Regional Championship at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA, 98042. Opening ceremonies for the free event will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the convention center and the public is encouraged to attend this free competition. In FIRST Tech Challenge, students exercise their mind, working as teams, and using problem solving skills, (all workforce skills) as their primary resource to find their spark for competition today with a possible career pathway for tomorrow.

1,034 FIRST Tech Challenge teams competed in this year's challenge "Velocity Vortex" at more than 50 tournaments in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming during the 2016-2017 FTC season. Through these competitions, a total of 73 teams qualified to compete at the West Super Regional. Washington will have 10 teams competing at the event. (Team Photos)

FIRST Washington was selected by FIRST New Hampshire to be the host organizer of this action filled event for the next hree years.

"FIRST Washington is pleased to host the Super Regional Championship. This is a sport where every kid can go pro.  There is a job out there in all of our Western States for these young people", Erin McCallum, FIRST Washington President.

FIRST Tech Challenge is a widely accessible robotics program for grades 7-12 that promotes project-based learning. Using a proven formula to engage student interest in STEM, FTC is one of the fastest-growing programs of its kind. FTC is highly-scalable and easily integrates into the classroom with measurable results. Teams in FIRST programs collaborate with business, engineering, and science professionals to become a focal point in the communities in which they live.  Using a combination of motors, controllers, wireless communications, metal gears, and sensors, including infrared tracking (IR), students will program their robots to operate in both autonomous and driver-controlled modes on a specially designed field.

About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science, technology, engineering, and math 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 over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $20 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics competition, for students in grades 9-12; FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7-12; FIRST LEGO® League for grades 4-8; and FIRST LEGO League Jr. for grades K-4.  Gracious Professionalism ® is a way of doing things that encourages high quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals in the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org.  

About FIRST Washington
FIRST Washington is the state nonprofit partner for FIRST which ignites youthful minds through education, hard work, mentorship and healthy competition. Currently there are 10,826 youth participating throughout the state with close to 5,000 coaches, mentors and volunteers.  In the four after school programs: FIRST LEGO League Jr. (ages 6 – 10); FIRST LEGO League (ages 9 -14); FIRST Tech Challenge (ages 12-18); FIRST Robotics Competition (ages 14-18) 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 FIRST or to find out how to get involved please go to:  http://www.firstwa.org/.  

Contact:  Kellie Essig
(253) 656-0402
Email: [email protected]
Event Site: ftcwest.org  
Event Social Media: Facebook

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/over-1000-first--students-across-thirteen-western-states-compete-in-super-regional-championship-to-exercise-the-sport-of-the-mind-300420680.html

SOURCE FIRST

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