South Florida High School Students Compete to Qualify For First® International Robotics Championship
High-school students from Florida, California, Arizona, Philadelphia and New York and from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Mexico and Panama, 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). On Friday, April 4 and Saturday April 5, at the University of Miami Watsco Center, 47 teams of students and engineering and technical mentors will demonstrate their skill for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They will compete for honors and recognition that reward 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 1,500 students will compete at the South Florida Regional to earn a spot at the international FIRST® Championship to be held April 16-19 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
REEFSCAPE presented by Haas is part of the 2024-2025 FIRST® DIVE℠ presented by Qualcomm season. In REEFSCAPE, teams will use their engineering skills to strengthen one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats and make waves to build a better world. Two competing Alliances will score coral, harvest algae, and attach to the barge before time runs out, and Alliances earn additional rewards for meeting specific scoring thresholds and for cooperating with their opponents.
“The achievements our students gain from participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition South Florida Regional go far beyond the event. They’re developing critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will serve them for life. Watching them grow into confident innovators and leaders is exactly what FIRST is all about.” – Sandra Contreras, Regional Director of FIRST in South Florida.
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.
FIRST Robotics Competition South Florida Regional sponsors and volunteers come from some of the most highly regarded organizations in the area, including Florida Power & Light Company (FPL).
As one of our presenting sponsors, FPL has been supporting FIRST Robotics Competitions for over 10 years from professional mentors, services, equipment, financial contributions, and volunteers. One of the highlights of the event is FPL’s “machine shop,” which provides students with essential resources to repair their robots after each scrimmage, enabling them to continue competing effectively. Their long-standing partnership is invaluable in providing our students with the resources they need to excel in the ever-evolving world of robotics.
“Through our partnership with FIRST Robotics, we are actively shaping the future of our students by helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow,” said Sarah Marmion, FPL senior manager of education and community programs. “Our dedication to robotics reflects our unwavering belief in the power of education and the potential of the next generation. We look forward to continuing this incredible journey together and are thrilled for the upcoming competition.”
For more information about FIRST in South Florida and the upcoming competition, please contact Sandra Contreras or visit www.soflofrc.firstinflorida.org
