UW-Milwaukee: To host state robotics championship Feb. 9

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lisa McGovern, (414) 229-1107, mcgoverl@uwm.edu, or on the day of the event, Juli Pickering, (414) 745-8421, jlpicker@uwm.edu  

MILWAUKEE _ Hundreds of students from 24 schools in communities throughout Wisconsin are taking their robots to the ring Saturday, Feb. 9, in the FIRST Tech Challenge 2019 State Competition, hosted by UW-Milwaukee’s College of Engineering & Applied Science.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge is an internationally recognized program for students in grades 7 to 12. Student teams build robots that compete in a “thrill-of-victory-agony-of-defeat” sports alliance. The hands-on experience inspires students to expand their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning as they design, build, program and operate robots.

“The FIRST Tech Challenge aligns with our mission, helping us to inspire the next generation of engineers and computer scientists,” said Juli Pickering, director of career services for UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science and FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner for Wisconsin. “It’s not rare for a UWM student to have come up through the FIRST program — this is the first step for many — inspiring them to explore these in-demand fields.”

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science is offering FIRST participants the opportunity to apply for a $2,000 scholarship, which is renewable and could be worth $12,000 to $20,000 based on academic merit after the first year.

Through the FIRST Tech Challenge, students discover the rewards of collaboration and develop a deeper understanding of innovation and engineering. The program’s results are significant: Compared with students who don’t participate in FIRST Tech Challenge, over 86 percent of participants have more interest in doing well in school, 87 percent are more interested in attending college and FIRSTalumni are 2.6 times more likely to enroll in an engineering course their freshman year. 

At the end of the state championship, two teams will move on to the World Championship in Detroit this spring.

MEDIA WELCOME

Date: Feb. 9

Location: UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.; most activities take place in the Ballroom.  

Times(afternoon times may vary slightly based on pace of event): 

• 10 a.m. – Opening ceremonies

• 10:30 a.m. – First qualifying match begins

• Noon – Lunch break

• 12:45 p.m. – Qualifying matches continue

• 3 p.m.- Semifinal and final matches

• 4:15 p.m. – Awards and closing ceremonies
 
About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 130 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 27,500 students from 91 countries on a budget of $689 million. Its 15 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2019 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.
 
 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR