FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and Microsoft Corp. announced a new FIRST Robotics Competition Seattle regional event for 2008. The regional competition will be sponsored by Microsoft. Activities are underway to form a planning committee; recruit teams, volunteers and sponsors; and determine the competition date and venue.

�By sponsoring a new regional event in Seattle, Microsoft is building on its long-standing support of the FIRST mission to increase opportunities for young people to pursue careers in science and technology,� said Paul Gudonis, president of FIRST. �This commitment establishes a new level of relationship between Microsoft and FIRST, as we join efforts to produce the next generation of scientists and engineers who will develop cutting-edge technologies, produce competitive products, and meet the challenges of the future.�

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering and technology. Over 32,500 high-school students in seven countries participated in the 2007 competition. Working with mentors, students have just six weeks to design, build and test their robots to meet the season’s engineering challenge. Once these inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.