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Robotics Contest is Sheer Lunacy

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More than 1,000 students from 34 teams representing Hawai`i, the mainland U.S., the Philippines and Mexico took a giant leap forward toward a brighter future at the University of Hawai`i's Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday, where the second annual NASA / BAE Systems FIRST in Hawai`i Regional Robotics Competition came to an exciting close.

Robotics Contest is Sheer Lunacy

Teams compete in day one of competition at the FIRST in Hawai`i Regional Robotics Competition.

Participating in a challenge called "Lunacy" that celebrates the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's historic mission to the moon, FIRST students showed the same tenacity and calm under pressure as our pioneering astronauts during the rigorous two-day competition. Students operated remote-controlled, team-built robots around a playing field while performing various mechanical skills.

Governor Lingle joined the students throughout the competition, and shared her enthusiasm.

 "We're gathered here to watch the world's best young people," the Governor said. "You did what few people would even attempt to do."

After 61 rounds of competition, the Blue Alliance was named the winner. Blue Alliance teams included: Maui High School, McKinley High School and Moanalua High School.

The Red Alliance was named the finalist. Red Alliance teams included: Punahou School, Farrington High School and Prospect High School (Saratoga, Calif.).

Waialua High School won the Chairman's Award, SIA Tech (San Jose, Calif.) won the Engineering Inspiration Award, and Philippine Science High School (Quezon City, Philippines) won the Rookie All-Star Award, which qualify the three teams to move on to the International FIRST Robotics World Championships that will be held next month in Atlanta, GA.

Members of the winning Blue Alliance compete in the finals. Blue Alliance teams included: Maui High School, McKinley High School and Moanalua High School.

Other awards were presented to:

General Motors Industrial Design Award – McKinley High School
Motorola Quality Award – Waialua High School
Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award – Farrington High School
Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award – Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills, Calif.)
Judges Award - Moanalua High School
Rookie Inspiration Award – Kalani High School
Highest Rookie Seed Award – Philippine Science High School (Quezon City, Philippines)
Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award – Waialua High School
Autodesk Visualization Award – Colegio Almos High School, Queretaro, Mexico
Imagery Award – Colegio Almos High School, Queretaro, Mexico
Rockwell Automation Innovation in Control Award – Gunn High School, Palo Alto, Calif.
Xerox Creativity Award – Kohala High School
Delphi Driving Tomorrow’s Technology Award – `Iolani School
Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers Entrepreneurship Award – Sacred Hearts Academy
Judges Award – Kaua`i Island High School (KauaiBots)
Website Award – Waialua High School
Regional Woodie Flowers Award (mentor of the year) – Aaron Dengler, Punahou School
Outstanding Volunteer Award – Osa Tui, McKinley High School

Governor Lingle and the recipients of the 2009 Chairman's Award, Waialua High School.

Mark Leon, director of NASA's Robotics Alliance Project and Hawai`i's regional master of ceremonies, expressed his admiration for the "gracious professionalism" and initiative demonstrated by all the teams. "While the rest of the world is sitting in bed watching cartoons, you're here, you're doing it, creating the future for our world," he said.

Robotics is a critical component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration's Hawai`i Innovation Initiative because it engages students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The competition also fosters students' teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that will better prepare them to enter the work force, regardless of what career they choose.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a volunteer-driven organization founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest in science and technology. More than 1,500 teams participate internationally. In 2008, hosting the first annual regional allowed the field of Hawai`i teams participating in FIRST competition to grow from only four schools in 2007 to 25 schools on four islands.

Many local companies and organizations have contributed to this momentum with generous scholarship programs. Among those investing in our students' future are the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which announced a new scholarship for a deserving high school student involved in robotics during this morning's opening ceremony; and AFCEA Hawai`i, an 800-member organization made up of military, federal government and industry professionals that is also offering student scholarships. Read more about this scholarship. In addition, students in Hawai`i and around the world are eligible for more than $9 million in scholarships through FIRST and its partners.

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