MADERA (KMJ) — What’s being billed as ‘a sport of the mind’, between some of the brightest students in the Central Valley, is taking place in Madera.
The fifth annual ‘FIRST Robotics Competition’ (first being an acronym – meaning ‘for inspiration and recognition of science and technology’) is taking place in Madera South High School this weekend. The robots are all designed by 9th through 12th grade students.
“The focus is to inspire them and to ignite their imaginations and to get involved in those different disciplines and really apply it to a very fun competition”, says Chairman for the Central Valley Regional Robotics Competition, and Madera High School Principal, Alan Hollman.
“This year’s games is FIRST Stonghold, and it has a medieval theme which is really cool”.
The competition is being held Saturday March 12th and Sunday March 13th at Madera South High School.
“The kids basically have six weeks in which to analyze the game, do their prototyping, come up with some designs that they think are viable, and then they go ahead and do the manufacturing, do their assembly of all those parts into a functional robot, that they then program, they troubleshoot, and get ready for a competition”.
Fifty High School teams from across the Central Valley will be competing, with the opportunity to advance to the world championship in Missouri.
The public is invited to attend the event, which is free to watch, and a timetable of everything taking place below. All events will be inside the west gym at Madera South High School, on 705 West Pecan Avenue in Madera.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
8:30AM – 9:00AM Opening Ceremonies
9:00AM – 12:00PM Qualification Matches
10:00AM – 5:00PM VIP PIT Tours
12:00PM – 1:00PM Lunch
1:00PM – 5:45PM Qualification Matches
5:45PM – 6:15PM Awards Ceremony
Sunday, March 13, 2016
8:30AM – 9:00AM Opening Ceremonies
9:00AM – 12:15PM Qualification Matches
12:15PM – 12:30PM Alliance Selections
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch
1:30PM – 4:30PM Final Rounds
4:30PM – 6:00PM Awards Ceremony
