WAIALUA ROBOTICS COMPETES WITH LEADERS IN LAS VEGAS 

Six Hawaii Robotics Teams Continue Prep for Global Championships

HONOLULU –  Following their second regional win last weekend at the FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition, Waialua High School robotics team competed again today at the Las Vegas Regional among 39 teams from across the country.  Waialua finished as a Regional Finalist and was recognized with two awards including:

• Entrepreneurship Award sponsored by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, which celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that, since inception, has developed the framework for a comprehen- sive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives.
• Woodie Flowers Award presented to Mr. Floyd "Dango" Matsumoto, mentor for the Waialua students, recognizing an outstanding engineer or teacher participating in the robotics competition who best demonstrates excellence in teaching science, math, and creative design.

Waialua also competed in the New York City Regional in early March, winning both the overall tournament as well as the Chairman's Award, the program's highest honor.

Waialua High, McKinley High and Kealakehe High School robotics teams won this year’s FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition, qualifying them to move on to the 2011 FIRST Robotics Championship at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, April 27-30.  In all, six teams from Hawai‘i schools have secured spots in the international championship, ensuring the Aloha State will be well represented in the prestigious competition dubbed the “Super Bowl of Smarts,” including:

• *Kealakehe High School
• *McKinley High School
• *Sacred Hearts Academy (previously qualified at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Regional Competition)
• *Waiakea High School
• *Waialua High School (also previously qualified at New York City Regional Competition)
• *Waianae High School

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common engineering problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard “kit of parts” and a common set of rules. The competition allows students to apply academic knowledge and innovation, while developing teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills that will better prepare them to continue their education and enter the workforce.

The 2012 FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition, the fifth annual event, is scheduled for the same weekend next March.

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About Robotics Education in Hawai‘i

FIRST Robotics is one of six programs which are supported by the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC), including FIRST, FIRST LEGO League, Underwater ROV, Botball, VEX Robotics and Micro Robotics.

Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics education at an early age and sustaining students’ interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, Hawai‘i’s six robotics programs joined together to form the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC). The six of the robotics programs are coordinating efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.

To learn more about robotics education in Hawai‘i, visit the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee website at: www.hawaiiiroc.org.