24 Mar More than 1,000 high school students recognized during Kansas City Robotics Competition
Teams from Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, Independence and Warrensburg
Advance to World Championships in St. Louis Next Month
Kansas City, MO (March 14, 2016)–Attended by thousands of fans, families, educators and industry leaders, the Kansas City Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition awarded several teams with honors that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and effective partnerships between schools, businesses and communities. At the event, which took place March 11-12 at Metropolitan Community College-Business & Technology campus, 59 high school student teams competed to earn a spot at theFIRST Championship April 27-30 in St. Louis, Mo.
With the hope of winning one of the several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot over a six-week period using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules.
“Each team clearly demonstrated teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking in solving the competition’s challenges,” said Martha McCabe, executive director of KC STEM Alliance, which funds and staffs the Kansas City Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. “It’s amazing to see how these students infuse others with their enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math. With the sustained support of the Kansas City community, this robotics competition will continue to grow and inspire students to study in the STEM fields.”
Students participating in FIRST are eligible to apply for more than $25 million dollars in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies. Scholarship announcements are made at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis. Since its beginning, FIRST has significantly improved students’ attitudes toward math, science and teamwork. Students who participate show increased interest in pursuing internship and employment opportunities in science and engineering, especially with companies that are involved with FIRST.
Winners of the FIRST Robotics Competition 2016 Kansas City Regional Awards include:
| Regional Chairman’s Award** (highest award of the competition) | Team 1764, Liberty/Liberty North High Schools | |
| Engineering Inspiration Award** (second highest award of competition) | Team 1939, The Barstow School, Kansas City | |
| Woodie Flowers Finalist Award | Team 1939’s Andrew Shimamoto | |
| Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award | Scott Goering | |
| Regional Champion** | Team 1986, Lee’s Summit West; Team 1775, Lincoln College Prep, Kansas City MO Public Schools; Team 4455, Warrensburg High School | |
| Regional Finalists | Team 1987, Lee’s Summit North; Team 935,Newton, Kansas; Team 1806, Smithville High | |
| Team Spirit Award | Team 2357, Raymore-Peculiar High School | |
| Excellence in Engineering Award | Team 1775, Lincoln College Prep, KCMO | |
| Industrial Design Award | Team 1986, Lee’s Summit West High School | |
| Gracious Professionalism Award | Team 1108, Paola, Kansas | |
| Entrepreneurship Award | Team 1987, Lee’s Summit North High School | |
| Quality Award | Team 5730, Monet High School | |
| Innovation in Control Award | Team 1806, Smithville High School | |
| Creativity Award | Team 2335, Shawnee Mission East High School | |
| Highest Rookie Seed Award | Team 5801, Fort Osage CTC | |
| Imagery Award | Team 1810, Mill Valley High School | |
| Industrial Safety Award | Team 1987, Lee’s Summit North Highs School | |
| Rookie All-Star Award** (highest rookie award) | Team 5801, Fort Osage CTC | |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Team 5968, Manhattan, Kansas | |
| Judges’ Award | Team 1730, Lee’s Summit |
*The Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
**Denotes awards that qualify teams for FIRST Championship in St. Louis, Mo.
About KC STEM Alliance
KC STEM Alliance is a collaborative network of educators, business partners and organizations working to generate a robust workforce of professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for the greater Kansas City region. KC STEM Alliance staff members are the regional representatives for FIRST Robotics and FIRST LEGO LEAGUE for Western Missouri and Kansas.
About FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology 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 $25 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-3. Gracious Professionalism®is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org
