Nearly 75,000 High-School Students Worldwide Eager for Inventor Dean Kamen to Unveil 2015 Robotics Challenge

Nearly 3,000 Teams Participate through Comcast NBCUniversal Broadcast

Media Invited to Attend Local Kickoffs in 107 Venues Worldwide

(BUSINESS WIRE) — December 29, 2014 — FIRST^®:

Who: FIRST ^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) will be joined by numerous public figures to launch the 2015 season of the FIRST^® Robotics Competition with a worldwide Kickoff event originating from Manchester, N.H.

• The 2015 season will include nearly 3,000 teams (75,000 high-school students) participating in 105 Regional and District events. All teams, grades 9-12, will be shown the new 2015 robotics game field and challenge for the first time and will receive an exciting, new Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components – with limited instructions.
• Teams will have six weeks to design and build a robot to meet this year’s engineering challenge.

Dignitaries and public figures will deliver remarks on video and in person, including:

• Dean Kamen, President, DEKA Research & Development and Founder, FIRST;
• Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Distinguished Advisor, and Co-Chair of the FIRST Executive Advisory Board; Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
• Donald E. Bossi, President, FIRST;
• FIRST students & special guests

What: Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that challenges high-school students – working alongside professional Mentors – to construct a robot of their own, and compete in the ultimate Sport for the Mind™ that measures the effectiveness of each robot, the power of teamwork and collaboration, and teams’ displays of Gracious Professionalism^®. Through their participation, students experience the excitement of science, engineering, technology, and innovation; build well-rounded life capabilities such as self-confidence, communication, and leadership; and qualify for over $20 million in college scholarships.

When:		Saturday, January 3, 2015
		10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Local Remarks (LIVE Manchester, N.H. only)
		10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Comcast NBCUniversal Broadcast

Where*: Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), 2500 North River Road, Manchester, N.H. * OPEN TO ALL MEDIA: If you would like to attend as media, please contact Haley Dunn at hdunn@usfirst.org or Brooke Blew at bblew@usfirst.org .