NASA Looks To FIRST To Build Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers

The School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) held its FIRST (For Inspiration in and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League Local Tournament on Long Island, in which robots designed and built by 8 to 14 year olds compete in a variety of tasks. The competition held at Farmingdale State College drew 32 teams from across Long Island.

"This is just the first time 'out of the gate' for us as the Awesome AHAPer team," said Caryn Meirs, their coach. The team is made up of AHAP (academically high aptitude program)  fifth-grade students from Half Hollow Hills.

• Caryn Meirs (Coach)
• Michael Lehmann (Student Coach)
• Ben Goldberg
• Corey Jeshiva
• Michael Sarosy
• Lauren Tucker
• Megan Lulley
• Justin Becker
• Ben Ferbin
• Gilbert Spencer

Meirs wanted the competitors to remember that the day is about being together as a team; gracious professionalism;  as well as learning from each other and the other teams present.

The theme for this year's event is "The Human Body." This was the first part of the competition, which was on technology and was only worth 25% of the overall score.

The next competition in February will be worth another 25% for teamwork, with the final 50% on research.

The Dix Hills team finished 19th out of 32 teams. Meirs said, "I feel great, considering we ran new missions each round aiming for experience instead of points.  The best part of the day to me was watching the kids and parents come together as a team."

"This is the largest NASA-funded student program geared toward robotics activities," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "For the next five years, approximately 25,000 students across the country will not only learn from our nation's best and brightest, but also compete and have fun at the same time."

NASA has awarded a five-year agreement to FIRST to provide support for hands-on robotics competition events to address the critical shortage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields that the nation is facing. The multi-year cooperative agreement, worth up to $20 million, was granted by NASA through the year 2014.

"From its inception 20 years ago, FIRST has been dedicated to the mission of inspiring young minds to become the best of what this country can offer – smart, talented, hardworking, and creative citizens," said Bill Miller, Director of the FIRST Robotics Competition. "At FIRST, we know that today's students will be creating new jobs, new industries, and new companies to meet challenges we cannot yet comprehend."