GVSU to host 1,000 students at FIRST Robotics District Competition

More than 1,000 high school students on 41 teams from across the state will compete in the “varsity sport for the mind” at Grand Valley State University March 24-26.

The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics District Competition will take place in the Fieldhouse on the Allendale Campus. Teams will compete with robots they built and designed for the competition. This year’s game is “Stronghold,” which challenges teams to score points by breaching opponents’ fortifications, weakening their towers with boulders and capturing the opposing tower.

The competition helps students get hands-on experience solving real-world problems and discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology careers. The teams had six weeks to design and build the robots for the competition.

Michigan has more FIRST Robotics teams than any other state, with more than 410 teams. Winners will move on to the state championship April 13-16 at the DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids. The world championship will take place April 27-30 in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information contact Ken Platteschorre, event coordinator, at [email protected] or Nicki Bonczyk, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected].