Canadian teams lead the pack at FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship
TORONTO, April 30, 2013 /CNW/ - For the first time in its 21-year history, two Canadian teams secured top spots at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) championship held last weekend in St. Louis, MO. Toronto's Crescent School and Mississauga's Theory6 Robotics from Rick Hansen Secondary School clinched first place in a three-team alliance that included team Texas Torque from The Woodlands, TX in the action-packed, Frisbee-flinging, pyramid-climbing finale of a three-day robotics competition that featured 400 teams from around the world.
"Our goals are to help young people discover and grow their interests in science and technology fields, while teaching them to bring the best out of themselves, their teammates and their competitors," said John Hobbins, volunteer advisor to Theory6 and FIRST Canada FRC Director.
Teams were invited to St. Louis after qualifying in regional competitions. Twenty-seven teams of 25 to 30 students, aged 14 to 18 represented top young Canadian engineering and technical talent at the international competition. Volunteer science and technology experts guided teams as they designed and built robots in six weeks. Canadian regional finals, organized by FIRST Robotics Canada, were sponsored by BlackBerry® and Hatch, and supported by FedDev Ontario (Southern Ontario) and the Province of Ontario - Ministry of Education.
"These kids continually astound us with their dedication and skill level," said Shawn Lim, robotics teacher and FIRST mentor at Crescent School. "Competition at this level is at a very high calibre, and give all of us glimpses at Canada's and the world's future science and tech leaders."
Canadian student receives FIRST Dean's List Award
Kaley Bibic, a member of Kingston's W.A.F.F.L.E.S Community Robotics team, was one of 10 students at the competition named to FIRST Dean's List Award. Bibic, a Grade 11 student at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, was recognized for her leadership and commitment to FIRST ideals, her contributions to her team as well as her passion, creativity and technical expertise.
Real-world engineering experience
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Canada coordinates friendly competition programs for students aged 6-18, interested in science and technology, as part of a global network of FIRST organizations. Guided by mentor-experts, students learn how to work as a team, approach issues and discover technology and engineering careers, while practicing FIRST values of "co-opertition" and "gracious professionalism."
Additional information about FIRST Robotics Canada and its programs can be found at www.firstroboticscanada.org.
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Image with caption: "Canadian teams lead the pack at FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship (CNW Group/FIRST Robotics Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130430_C9969_PHOTO_EN_26161.jpg
SOURCE: FIRST Robotics Canada
Media Contact:
Mark Breadner
FIRST Robotics Canada
[email protected]
416-453-6844
John Hobbins
Theory6 Robotics
[email protected]
416-606-6934
Shawn Lim
Crescent School FIRST Robotics Team
[email protected]
416-453-6844
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