(UNION COUNTY, NJ) -- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly congratulates the students of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools’ (UCVTS) robotics team Parallel Universe/FRC Team 1257 as they advance to the World Championship competition in St. Louis next week.
Competing against sixty of the top teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region, last weekend the UCVTS team won the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Championship held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The win came alongside UCVTS alliance partners, Team 225 from York, PA, and Team 341 from Ambler, PA.
“FIRST robotics develops not only technical skills but also critical-thinking, leadership and communication skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “These students are our future innovators, engineers, scientists and researchers, and the Freeholder Board congratulates them on their remarkable accomplishment.”
Through the FIRST program, the UCVTS robotics team students work together throughout the school year to build a robot, forge sponsor relationships, host STEM community outreach programs, and compete in district, regional, and international competitions.
This exhilarating robotics program combines the excitement of spectator sports with the rigor of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. FIRST has a unique culture because although it embraces the spirit of competition, it also heavily emphasizes the values of respect, empathy, and cooperation. It is meant to inspire students around the world to become leaders in science and technology, as well as business and design.
“Thanks to support from our school, community, and sponsors, we are proud to be representing our school district and Union County next week in St. Louis," said Peter Capodice, UCVTS Superintendent of Schools.
The FIRST World Championship will place in St. Louis, Missouri, from April 27 to April 30 with 600 teams from 32 different countries across the globe gathering together in the Edward Jones Dome to compete at the Championship Event. This is UCVTS Parallel Universe/FRC Team 1257’s first time attending the FRC Championship in over 10 years.
