Moore Norman team

Tulsa Technology Center team

Metro Tech team web site  

Ponca City High School team

Tulsa Booker T Washington High School team

Jenks High School team 

Oklahoma Highlights

1st Robotics Webcast: Houston Regional Competition 2006

Horizon Show "Robotics" 2007

Regional Competition in Oklahoma City during March 2008.
Deadline for entries is November, 2007

Oklahoma City to host regional robotics competition

TIM TALLEY
Associated Press Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma educators believe a robotics competition that
provides the same kind of excitement and drama as an athletic contest
will encourage more of the state's students to get involved in science
and math.

State lawmakers and other officials said Wednesday that Oklahoma City
has been chosen as the site of the Oklahoma Regional For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competition in March.

The event blends the exhilaration of athletic competition with
engineering to create a one-of-a-kind sport for the mind, said Rep. Tad
Jones, R-Claremore, chairman of the House Education Committee.

"We were really looking at ways to get kids more interested in math and
science," Jones said. "We'd like to see every school eventually have a
program like this."

The contest involves high school and CareerTech students who work with
professional mentors to build remote-controlled robots from a common set
of basic parts to compete in high-intensity events that measure their
effectiveness. More than 40 teams are expected for the regional
competition March 20-22.

There will be 37 regional tournaments leading to the national
competition in April in Atlanta. Since 1989, the competition has grown
from 28 teams to more than 1,300 from 23 countries that will compete for
$8 million in scholarships.

Jones said he was introduced to the FIRST robotics program, which is
sponsored by NASA, at a regional competition in Kansas City where robots
from rival schools competed to perform specific tasks.

"They're battling other robots," Jones said. "It was like a basketball
game with the crowds, mascots and excitement. These were kids involved
in math and science and engineering."

In May, the Legislature appropriated $100,000 to establish robotics
projects in high schools. The funds will be used to provide $5,000
grants to schools that apply. The deadline for applying for the money is
Oct. 17.

Oklahoma already has as many as 18 high schools and career techs with
robotics teams and the grants will create as many as 20 more teams,
Jones said.

Research has shown that participants are 35 percent more likely to
attend college and nearly twice as likely to major in science or
engineering.

Of the 20 fastest-growing occupations through 2010, 15 of them will
require substantial mathematics or science preparation, according to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"As we look for ways to enhance Oklahoma's knowledge-based economy, it's
fundamental to our efforts that we encourage events and competitions
like U.S. FIRST," said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

"Competitions like this give students a reason to get excited about math
and science," state Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett said.
"Participation will assist in the statewide effort to increase Oklahoma
students' interest and test scores in those subjects."

Degrees in engineering rank among the top five most sought after
associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, according to
the National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2007 Job Outlook.

"One of our highest priorities in Oklahoma must be to improve student
achievement and confidence, so that kids can go as far as their
aspirations, talent and hard work will take them," Cargill said.

FIRST Robotics

FIRST Robotics Link

FIRST Article Links:

News 9, Robot Regionals will Tout Technology next spring: http://newsok.com/article/3129833/1190269932

Updated: 2007.10.2