The SOE’s Center for Mathematics and Science Education will host the fourth annual Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Championship on Saturday, February 27, at UM.

At least 22 high school and junior high school teams (more than 300 students) and their hand-built robots will gather at the Jackson Avenue Center that morning to compete in a game titled FIRST RES-Q (Watch this informational video). The teams, which hail from across the state, will also have the chance to qualify for the FTC South Super Regional in San Antonio, Texas, this March.

Every year, a different game is chosen for the championship. This year’s game, FIRST RES-Q, is modeled after rescue situations encountered by mountain explorers worldwide. Teams will score points for various challenges such as delivering rescue climbers to a shelter and parking robots on a mountain model in the playing arena.

FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, inspires youth to be leaders in science and technology by engaging K-12 students in robotics. FTC  teams, comprised of 10-15 students, are challenged to design, build, program and operate robots in competitive games. Students practice teamwork and innovation and develop valuable STEM skills—such as software coding and principles of engineering and physics—with the guidance of coaches or mentors.

In addition to the game, students raise funds and market their team as a brand and participate in community outreach programs. FIRST gives participating students access to scholarship opportunities worth more than $25 million combined. According to FTC data, more than 84 percent of participating students have an increased interest in in STEM subjects and 86 percent are more interested in attending college.

 If interested in attending, please RSVP to umcmse@olemiss.edu with your name, Email address and the number of guests you would like to bring. Admission is free to the public.

 Story by E. McCormick