Teams compete in robotics event

Students from 38 high school teams in seven states competed for top honors during the 2011 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Bayou Regional competition March 17-19 in New Orleans. An alliance of teams from Gulfport High School, St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi, Miss., and Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge, La., emerged as the tournament champion. In addition, Northshore High School in Slidell, La., won the Regional Chairman’s Award, which recognizes the team creating the best partnership effort and best exemplifying the true meaning of FIRST. The FIRST competition is designed to encourage students to pursue engineering and technology careers. High school teams are given six weeks to build robots that can perform assigned tasks. They then compete in regional events across the country to earn a chance to go to the finals. NASA and the John C. Stennis Space Center are strong supporters of FIRST Robotics and the Bayou Regional event through direct monetary support and the work of judges, volunteers and team mentors. (Source: NASA, 03/22/11)