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If
you enjoy competition that involves shrewd strategies,
intricate manuvers, tense moments, the roar of a crowd,
and imagination to execute pivotal moves, then the F.I.R.S.T
Robotics Competition might be of interest to you.
 Each
year a team of students (from various programs at the
Saginaw Career Complex), teachers, engineers, and corporate
sponsors gather together to brainstorm, design, construct
and test their problem-solving robot to compete in the
F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Comptetion. In early
January the team is greeted with the announement of
the annual challenge, or "game", which is
different every year. They then have six weeks
to use their talents and expertise to create what they
hope will be the winning robot during the intense, spirited,
and fun-filled competitions, which will be held later
in the year.
From
the first moment that the team gathers to brainstorm
about the new robot that will meet the criteria, challenges,
and constraints of the game, learning begins to take
place through serious play. The impact of this
project goes beyond the
lively competitions; those students who participate
in this adventure begin to see the connection between
their math, science, technology, and communication classes
and the problems that exist in the real world.
Teamworking skills, respect for others, time management
skills, and professional networking are also added benefits
which are developed throughout the experience.
The
rewards go beyond winning at this exciting competition.
Internships and scholarships are also possible for F.I.R.S.T.
students.
The
team this year, named Inferno,worked hard to
create a robot that they affectionately called Meltdown.
Take a look at the team in action:
 
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