Dean Kamen’s not-for-profit FIRST ^® Honors The Excitement for Science & Technology

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Scheduled to Speak on April 16 at Noon, ET

(BUSINESS WIRE) — April 15, 2010 — WHO:

• Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST ^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) – to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people
• More than 10,000 students from 30 countries and their 530 custom-built robots will compete at FIRST Championship 2010
• Students who participate in FIRST programs – FTC and FRC – are eligible for $12 million in college scholarships
• Expected attendance: approximately 20,000

WHAT:

• The FIRST Championship is a culmination of regional FIRST competitions held across the world, beginning last fall
• During heart-pounding, high-energy matches, students put their custom-built robots to the test with the help of mentors and professional engineers, evoking passion in exploring careers in science, engineering, math, medical technology and related fields
• FIRST Championship offers three levels of competition for students ages 9- to 18-years-old
  • FIRST LEGO^® League (FLL^®, ages 9 to 14; 9 to 16 outside the U.S. and Canada); FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC^®, ages 14 to 18); and FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC^®, ages 14 to 18)

WHEN:

April 15-17
Thursday, April 15
8:00-6:00 PM				Practice rounds and qualification rounds for all robotics programs
Friday, April 16
9:25-5:30 PM				Qualification rounds for all robotics programs
Saturday, April 17
8:45-11:45 am				Qualification rounds for FTC and FRC
1:00-3:30 PM				Division final rounds for FTC and FRC
4:00-6:00 PM				Final round, winners and awards

WHERE

• Georgia Dome - Atlanta
  (Parking available at the GWCC and Georgia Dome; Media Registration at the Georgia Dome, Press Room)

VISUALS

• Colorful team uniforms, students working on robots in NASCAR-like pits, competing in fast-paced matches
• Volunteers, parents, mentors and FIRST alumni – numbering 20,000 cheering for students from the stands in pep rally-style

STORY ANGLES:

• Rise of “robomoms” – With the increase of all-girls’ teams, more mothers are signing up as mentors of FIRST teams
• Workforce investment – Sponsors are investing in FIRST to help fuel the workforce talent pipeline with innovative thinkers/future employees
• Science & technology philanthropy – FIRST has 95,000 volunteers, 3,500+ sponsors, career internships and more than $12 million in college scholarships

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

• Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter and the Luke Arm
• Paul Gudonis, president of FIRST
• Woodie Flowers, MIT Pappalardo Professor Emeritus, and FIRST National Advisor
• Students, mentors and national sponsors
• FIRST Sponsorship campaigns

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Contact:

For FIRST
Katie Cinnamond, 617-939-8336
Email Contact
or
Jenna Walsh, 617-939-8617
Email Contact