The Wilson High School FIRST Robotics team now has $1,500 more to help the members buy materials and equipment to build their robot for competition, thanks to the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS).
Jim Tschimperle from Pacific Machine Inc. selected the Wilson team from the Tacoma schools participating in FIRST Robotics.
FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
Wilson RoboRAMS will begin their fourth year of competition Jan. 3 with about 15 members. The team will have six weeks to build a robot to meet a challenge announced Jan. 7. In March, the students will compete at Qwest Field.
The FIRST robotic competition will kick-off Friday, Jan. 6, with workshops at the FIRST headquarters in Manchester, N.H. The workshops provide teams with the opportunity to learn from other teams, mentors, supporters and suppliers.
The Saturday, Jan. 7, kick-off event marks the beginning of the design and build season, according to the FIRST Web site. NASA will televise the event.
For many years, the NASA Robotics Alliance Project (RAP) has been supporting participation in the FIRST Robotics competition by providing grants to high school teams as well as sponsoring FIRST regional competitions.
For more information about FIRST, click here.
Pictured left to right for the presentation of a $1,500 donation to the Wilson High School FIRST Robotics Club are Jim Tschimperle of Pacific Machine Inc.; Robin Nixon, associate director of CAMPS; John Page with TPS; Joshua Ellestad, team leader for Robotics 2011; Samantha Foppiano, team leader for Robotics 2011; Tony Lund, Wilson teacher and FIRST Robotics advisor; and Tom Brosius, ORION.