FIVE HAWAI`I HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAMS TO COMPETE WITH SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE NATION

For Immediate Release:  February 29, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., today extended their support and best wishes to five Hawai‘i high school robotics teams that are traveling to the mainland during the next two weeks to compete with schools from across the country at various regional competitions.

The five teams – four from O‘ahu (McKinley, Waialua, Punahou and Sacred Hearts Academy) and one from the Big Island (Waiākea) – will compete in six different regional challenges on the mainland as part of the FIRST Robotics Competition, in what is called the “varsity sport of the mind.”  The traveling teams include more than 50 Hawai‘i students, as well as teachers, parents and chaperones.

“Hawai‘i students have been working intensely for months to prepare for these important competitions,” said Governor Lingle.  “From building the robot to coming together as a team, they are embracing their future and the future success of our entire state.

“Through robotics, these students are applying their academic knowledge and critical thinking skills, while building their capacity to be innovative and competitive in the global economy,” added Governor Lingle.

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. Using their academic skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as innovation, ingenuity, teamwork and communication, the teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions designed by FIRST founder Dean Kamen and a committee of engineers and other professionals. 

“Having seen first-hand how well Hawai‘i students compete at the national level, I am confident these five teams will excel in the regional competitions and return home with renewed energy to compete in the Hawai‘i regional,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “The skills the students learn through robotics will further build their confidence, broaden their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math, and ultimately help them in their careers.”

The traveling Hawai‘i teams and dates of the regional competitions are:

Thursday, February 28 – Saturday, March 1
- McKinley High School to compete at Portland, Oregon Regional

Thursday, March 6 – Saturday, March 8
- Waialua High School to compete at Richmond, Virginia Regional

Thursday, March 13 – Saturday, March 15
- Waialua High School to compete at Annapolis, Maryland Regional
- Waiakea High School to compete in San Jose, California Regional
- Punahou to compete in San Jose, California Regional
- Sacred Hearts Academy to compete in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Regional

Hawai‘i will host the inaugural FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition on March 27-29 at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus.  It will feature 37 teams, representing 25 Hawai’i schools from O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and the Big Island, as well as 12 teams from the mainland.  The public is invited to attend at no charge for admission. 

For additional information as well as video footage of the 2007 robotics challenge, visit the FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition website at http://robotics.hawaii.gov or the FIRST Web site at www.usfirst.org.

Media note: To set up interviews with any of the teams, please call Russell Pang at (808) 586-0043.

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For more information, contact:

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043

Corrie Heck
Communications Officer
Phone: (808) 586-0718