30 teams show up for FIRST

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Thirty teams from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi high schools were at NASA's Stennis Space Center Saturday for the kickoff of the FIRST robotics competition. Teams were given parts kits to build robots in the next six weeks for the competition to be held in the spring. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is designed to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Each year teams across the nation are given identical parts kits to build robots. The teams then use the robots to compete in regional events and a season-ending national tournament. The 2011 Bayou Regional FIRST Robotics Competition will be held at the Alario Center in Westwego, La., on March 17-19. (Source: NASA, 01/10/11) Previous story