msmary.edu
www.STEMaction.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2017
CONTACT:
William Duncan
STEMaction, Inc.
Phone: 410-350-5031
[email protected]
2017 FIRST Tech Challenge
Maryland Championship
High school robotics teams compete at Mount St. Mary’s University
for top honors and advancement toward FIRST Championships in St. Louis
EMMITSBURG, MD (February 7, 2017) – Mount St. Mary’s University and STEMaction, Inc. will host 48 robotics
teams and more than 500 middle and high school students competing in the 2017 Maryland FIRST® Tech
Challenge Championship. The public is welcome to cheer the competitors at one of the region’s top hands-on
STEM activities. The event takes place on Sunday, Feb. 12, in Mount St. Mary’s Knott Arena at 16300 Old
Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD. Opening ceremonies are at 10:30am and the competition continues
through the Final Rounds, which are scheduled for 5:00pm. Admission is free; press and media are welcome.
“We are extremely excited to host the FIRST Tech Challenge Maryland Championship,” said Tim Trainor, Ph.D.,
interim president of Mount St. Mary’s University. “Science, technology, engineering and math competencies
are key components of what will help today’s students lead our global economy in the future. Events such as
this encourage students to experiment with concepts learned in the classroom, which aligns perfectly with the
Mount’s focus on discovery-based learning.”
In this season’s FIRST Tech Challenge “Velocity Vortex™”, two-robot alliances work to shoot particles into
goals, claim infrared beacons, and raise large cap balls at the end of each 2-1/2 minute game. A total of 107
teams from Maryland, Washington, DC and beyond went through six Qualifying Tournaments this season to
determine which would attend the Maryland Championship. Top teams will advance to the East Super
Regional in Pennsylvania in March and from there to the FIRST Championships in St. Louis in April.
FIRST inspires students to become technology and engineering innovators of tomorrow. The FIRST Tech
Challenge program gives teams of up to 15 middle or high-school students a hands-on experience designing,
building, programming and driving robots. The program fosters a culture of “Gracious Professionalism™” that
encourages teamwork and cooperation as much as competition. The FIRST Tech Challenge program is
sponsored nationwide by Rockwell Collins, Qualcomm and PTC. Maryland program sponsors include Rockwell
Collins, Bechtel, Best Buy, Northrop Grumman, and the Universities Space Research Association. Marylandbased non-profit STEMaction, Inc. operates the FIRST Tech Challenge program in Maryland and Washington,
DC.
msmary.edu
www.STEMaction.org
ABOUT STEMaction
STEMaction ignites and nurtures a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) through events and activities for youth and their families. We support Maryland FIRST's progression of
K-12 programs as well as other great STEM activities. STEMaction is the official Affiliate Partner for the
Maryland FIRST Tech Challenge and Maryland FIRST LEGO League Junior programs. STEMaction is Founding
Partner for the Maryland STEM Festival and the Howard County STEM Festival. Our partnership with the
Universities Space Research Association (USRA) led to the opening of a USRA STEMaction Center in Columbia,
MD. Learn more at www.stemaction.org.
ABOUT MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY
Mount St. Mary’s University a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in historic Emmitsburg, Md. with a
satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland’s second largest city. The university offers more than 40 majors,
minors, concentrations and special programs for its 1,600 traditional undergraduate students, and 17 adult
undergraduate and graduate level programs. Of them, eight are featured in the Mount’s School of Natural
Science and Mathematics for undergraduates, as well as a biotechnology and management program offered
for graduate students. To learn more please visit msmary.edu/SNSM.
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
major corporate support and more than $50 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization
hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition for high-school students, FIRST® Tech Challenge for middle and highschool students, FIRST® LEGO® League for 9 to 14-year-olds, and FIRST® LEGO® League Junior for 6 to 10-yearolds. 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.
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