Serious Fun At First Robotics Regional

(March 6, 2010)

MANCHESTER, N.H. – FIRST’s fun and friendly robot competition accomplishes real, measurable results for aspiring scientists and engineers trying to reach their full potential. FIRST enables the award of millions of dollars in scholarships to qualified participants annually.

Corporate sponsors, along with colleges and universities, will award more than 650 individual scholarships this year to FIRST competitors. The size of the awards is impressive as well, totaling more than $11 million each year.
 “There is no question I am looking for students who have a background in mechanical skills and a passion for science,” said University of Massachusetts-Lowell physics department chairman Bob Giles. The FIRST participants “are the exact kind of kids I’m looking for.”

UMass-Lowell offers $5,000 a year to eligible FIRST participants through its Dean’s Merit Scholarship.

The scholarships – the majority of which are specifically for engineering, math, science, computer science and technology majors – range in value from a $500 one-time payouts to full tuition for four years of college.

FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – motivates students to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering. In early January, teams received a challenge to design, develop and build a robot in six weeks using a common parts list. The robots are then competed in regional tournaments across the U.S. with winning teams invited to the FIRST Championships in Atlanta, Ga., in May.

The annual Granite State Regional, sponsored by BAE Systems, brings more than 1,500 students and their mentors together in a competition that emphasizes teamwork, innovation and strategy.

To learn more about the FIRST scholarships, visit www.usfirst.org/scholarships. For further information, please contact Matthew Tinkham, BAE Systems, at 603 885 2810.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services.  In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

For further information, please contact:

Greg Caires, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8261  Mobile: +1 703 967 8630
greg.caires@baesystems.com