FIRST Robotics Competition (Bad Picture ... Awesome Ed Tech Event)

[Bruce Umpstead]

Last Saturday, my daughter Jaci and I had the privilege of attending the FIRST Robotics Great Lakes Regional competition at the Eastern Michigan Convocational Center as guests of Team Rush (Clarkston FIRST team).

This is a picture of Kyle Hughes (teacher/captain), Jaci, and me. Jaci and Kyle are always photogenic; me, not so much ...

We toured the pits and watched Team Rush move from the quarterfinals to the semis. "Our" robot was a monster, shooting balls across the race track and racking up points for a third place finish.


What is great about Clarkston's team is that they are focused on the FRC Chairman's Award, which recognizes the team's contribution to the FIRST outside the competition. Kyle and her team have been real "troopers" for FIRST in Michigan, barnstorming from one side of the state to the other. The need is real: $300,000 slated for FIRST in the current state budget was cut, and this investment leveraged $5 million of private investment in Michigan's 120 teams. Effort is being made to replace the money.

The educational benefits of FIRST needs exposure and, on this count, Team Rush delivered. Here is an excellent story about the competition on WWJ Radio's website.

The international competition in Atlanta (April 17-19) is next on Clarkston's docket. Help me in rooting them on the gold Chairman's Award. Go Team Rush!

[Kelley Irish]

Sounds like so much fun.-I am pulling for you and the 300,000 :)