STEAM Non-Profit Teaches Students Problem Solving, Teamwork, Inspired Robot Design and Building
Click here to watch exciting video highlights from the 2018 Las Vegas Regional
Las Vegas–Switch (NYSE: SWCH) and FIRST Nevada have teamed up for the third year in a row to focus on STEAM education and future career development, through robot design and creation at the 2019 FIRST® Robotics Competition – Las Vegas Regional March 27-30. Switch’s major lead sponsorship continues to support the FIRST® program with its growth and success across Nevada.
The mission of this year’s FIRST competition is called DESTINATION: DEEP SPACE. The game finds teams collecting samples on Planet Primus. Two competing alliances will combat unpredictable terrain and weather patterns, making remote robot operation essential to their mission on the planet. With only two minutes and thirty seconds until liftoff, the alliances must gather as many cargo pods as possible and prepare their spaceships for departure before the next sandstorm arrives.
Approximately 45 high schools will bring students, teachers, mentors, sponsors and family members to participate in the FIRST® Robotics Competition – Las Vegas Regional. The high-tech sporting event will produce excitement and energy for participants and spectators, as teams compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, sportsmanship, teamwork, and more.
“FIRST Nevada’s partnership with Switch is vital to our growth and success of FIRST® STEAM educational programs, and we are honored to have their support,” said Angela Quick FIRST Nevada Regional Director. “We are truly grateful for our aligned vision to move STEAM education forward in the state of Nevada.”
FIRST® was created by Dean Kamen to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and their communities. Kamen and Switch CEO and Founder Rob Roy share a vision of attracting the young stars, inventors and futurists who are training their minds and creative energies for careers of the future.
“Switch’s key philanthropy initiative FIRST® Robotics, truly creates the thinkers, leaders and solutionists of tomorrow,” said Missy Young Switch CIO. “FIRST embodies our belief that you must combine the power of invention and creativity with technology through STEAM education.”
About FIRST Nevada
FIRST Nevada is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting FIRST® Robotics programs and STEAM education initiatives in Nevada. With support from companies and foundation donors, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. for Grades K-3. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST® visit www.firstnevada.org or www.firstinspires.org.
ABOUT Switch
Switch (NYSE: SWCH), the technology infrastructure company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada is built on the intelligent and sustainable growth of the internet. Switch founder and CEO Rob Roy has developed more than 600 issued and pending patent claims covering data center designs that have manifested into the company’s world-renowned data centers and technology solutions.
The Switch PRIMES, located in Las Vegas and Tahoe Reno, Nevada; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia (opening in Q4 2019) are the world’s most powerful hyperscale data center campus ecosystems with low latency to major U.S. markets. Visit switch.com for more information.