Forty-Nine Teams from Long Island, NYC and the World to Compete at Hofstra University for REEFSCAPESM presented by Haas
Area students are excited about the 26th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Long Island Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition, which will be held March 21 to 22 at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Presented by FIRST Long Island, Zebra Technologies, Optimum and PMMI, this regional features 49 teams from across Long Island, New York City, and India. These teams’ students utilize robots to compete in alliance-style tournament rounds under this year’s challenge, dubbed REEFSCAPESM Presented by Haas. Long Island residents are encouraged to attend to support these local high school students.
The FIRST Long Island Regionals feature teams of high school-aged students competing in a cooperative tournament-style robotics competition. Guided by their mentors, students rely on their skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) to compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play and sportsmanship. This high-energy event further emphasizes the importance of high-impact partnerships between students, universities, businesses and communities.
In REEFSCAPESM presented by Haas, two competing alliances are invited to score coral, harvest algae, and attach to the barge before time runs out. Alliances earn additional rewards for meeting specific scoring thresholds and for cooperating with their opponents.
This year marks the 26th season of the FIRST Robotics Competition supported by FIRST Long Island using Founder Fred Breithut’s vision for the students of Long Island and the innovative program developed through FIRST. Breithut, a former educator, founded FIRST Long Island (then known as the School Business Partnership of Long Island) in 1984 to address the gap between the skills needed by Long Island’s business community and the relevant preparation provided by local school districts. In the first 15 years of its operation, FIRST Long Island formed over 100 successful partnerships between high schools and local businesses. It now focuses on running the full suite of FIRST programs.
The presenting co-sponsors of this year’s competition are Zebra Technologies and Optimum, both long-term supporters of FIRST and FIRST Long Island. Zebra Technologies provides industry-tailored, end-to-end technological solutions for retail/e-commerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare and other industries. Optimum is the local provider of Internet, mobile, phone and TV services. This year, we are thrilled to have the Packaging Machine Manufacturing Institute (PMMI) as a co-sponsor as well. As a trade association, they represent more than 900 manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components and materials as well as providers of related equipment to the packaging and processing industry.
The event is free to the public. Those in attendance are encouraged to cheer on their home teams and visit the teams’ pit areas to see firsthand how these students are able to program, repair and operate their robots. Visitors can also meet with FIRST Long Island representatives, who can explain to them the different tournaments the organization presents and how one can form a team.
“The FIRST Long Island Regional is an amazing culmination of teams’ design and building activities and a way for students to showcase their talents,” says Larry Toonkel, director of the FIRST Robotics Competition for FIRST Long Island. “We are very excited to see what all our Long Island teams bring to the table and to host off-Long Island teams, including some international teams.”
“We are certain that this event will provide a great opportunity for teams to live the FIRST experience and have a chance to advance to the Championships,” adds the organization’s executive director, Bertram Dittmar. “To accomplish these goals, we’ll need the continued support of our valued schools, families, volunteers and donors.”
FIRST Long Island, along with Zebra Technologies, Optimum, and PMMI are the title sponsors of the FIRST Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. Captain of Innovation-level sponsors include Cradle of Aviation Museum, Farmingdale State College, FESTO, Northrop Grumman, PSEG Long Island, Schenck USA, School Construction Consultants, Inc., SCOPE Education Services, TTM Technologies, the U.S. Army and the United States Navy.
Friends of the Future-level sponsors include accessLinx, Inc., Brookhaven Science Associates, Inc. (BNL), the Dittmar Family, Mary Ellen Freeley, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Yacov Shamash and the Stern Family.