Ten Motorola-Sponsored Teams Advance to Final Round in 2010 FIRST Robotics Competition Tweet

Motorola, Motorola Foundation Support New Generation of Innovators, Leaders in Science and Technology.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and the Motorola Foundation are dedicating $740,000 and 60 employee volunteers to support 158 teams participating in the 2010 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition. Ten of those teams are advancing to the championship round, taking place April 15-17 in Atlanta. FIRST, a nonprofit that seeks to inspire students to get involved in engineering and technology, hosts this annual competition to engage 45,000 high school students from around the world in scientific thinking, designing and building robots.

As part of the competition, participants are given six weeks to create a robot that can perform competitive functions from a common kit provided by FIRST. From more than 1,800 teams, 344 of the most innovative and successful were selected to compete in the annual championship, including the 10 Motorola-sponsored teams and additional special ambassadors from team Haiti who were victims of January’s devastating earthquake.

“Inspiring students through hands-on experience demonstrates the connection between the cool technology they use every day and the importance of understanding the math and science concepts they learn in the classroom,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Foundation. “We are dedicated to engaging students in challenges like FIRST Robotics that spark excitement and creativity while cultivating the next generation of great innovators—the pipeline for the technology industry.”

For more than 20 years, Motorola has been an avid FIRST supporter, contributing more than $14 million and countless employee volunteer hours to the program. This year, the company sponsored nearly 1,400 students from nine countries. In addition, several Motorola team members are FIRST Robotics alumni who now serve as FIRST volunteer coaches, underscoring the company’s dedication to educating and inspiring tomorrow’s great inventors and problem solvers.

In 2009, the Motorola Foundation was named a Strategic Partner of FIRST for helping to advance the organization’s mission. The company also has contributed to FIRST’s global expansion, funding teams and regional competitions across the U.S. and in Chile, Germany and Haiti.

Labels: