Television Appearances | Press Clips | Press Releases
Television Appearances
March 20, 2007
Channel 21 - Learning Curve - "Innovations in Teaching"
Watch News 12 Story (.MOV, 1 min 48 sec, 30 MB)
March 20, 2007 - Channel 21 - Learning Curve - "Innovations in Teaching"
Watch Part I (.MOV, 4 min 6 sec, 55 MB) Watch
Part II (.MOV, 5 min 21 sec, 63 MB)
Press Clips
Long Island FIRST Robotics Competition featured in
Long Island Business News
2-27-04. Download article (8MB).
Newsday, March 30, 2007
Super Bowl for Nerds
Machines built by local high-schoolers battle it out at Hofstra
Press Releases
October 22, 2007
Results from the Deer Park Invitational Postseason Event
October 16, 2007
SBPLI-LI FIRST Supports Deer Park Invitational Postseason Event
October 4, 2007
SBPLI-LI FIRST Kicks Off the 2007-2008 Regional Robotics Competition Season
May 2, 2007
Nassau BOCES Honors Frederick W. Breithut with the 'Education Partner' Award
June 21, 2004
Long Island Students to Receive Scholarships Valued at $125,000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
March 31, 2008
REGIONAL WINNERS OF SBPLI-LI FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Teams Advance to Championship, Others Win Honors for Design, Sportsmanship, Partnership
Hofstra University's Arena to watch 46 teams of high school students compete at the SBPLI, Inc. Long Island Regional Robotics competition. The students’ goal was to earn a spot at the FIRST Championship, to be held April 17 through 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Teams received honors and recognition that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses and communities.
"All teams demonstrated tremendous teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking, but these winners went above and beyond to overcome the challenges of the competition," said Fred Breithut, Founder & Chairman of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, sponsors of the Long Island Regional FIRST Competition. "The fun and excitement of the competition was evident as many students, professional mentors, school groups and community members caught the spirit and came to cheer on their favorite teams as engineering and technology at work surpassed the excitement of a championship athletic event."
With the hope of winning one of several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot over a six-week timeframe that solves a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. The students gathered to compete with their robots in this year's game, "Overdrive." "Overdrive" is played by two three-team alliances. The object of "Overdrive" is for the robots to race around a track in a counter-clockwise direction manipulating trackballs to earn points. The points are determined within two scoring periods; Hybrid - where digital signals are sent to the robots by robocoaches in the first 15 seconds of play, and Teleoperated-where the robots are radio controlled by team operators during the next 2 minutes of play.
Winners of the SBPLI, Inc. Regional awards include:
| Award | Winner |
| Regional Chairman's Award* (Highest award of the competition) | Team 329, Patchogue-Medford High School, Medford, NY |
| Reginal Engineering Inspiration Award (Second highest award of the competition) | Team 1594, Brearley High School & Chapin High School, New York, NY |
| Regional Winner #1 | Team 2487, Sayville High School, West Sayville, NY |
| Regional Winner #2 | Team 2010, Champion High School, Warren, OH |
| Regional Winner #3 | Team 102, Somerville High School, Somerville, NJ |
| Regional Finalist #1 | Team 358, Hauppauge High School, Hauppauge, NY |
| Regional Finalist #2 | Team 533, Lindenhurst Senior High School, Lindenhurst, NY |
| Regional Finalist #3 | Team 1803, Paul D. Schreiber High School, Port Washington, NY |
| Chrysler Team Spirit Award | Team 287, William Floyd HS, Mastic Beach, NY |
| Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award | Team 1751, Comsewogue High School, Port Jefferson Station, NY |
| General Motors Industrial Design Award | Team 271, Bay Shore High School, Bay Shore, NY |
| Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism | Team 1468, Hicksville High School, Hicksville, NY |
| Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award | Team 102, Somerville High School, Somerville, NJ |
| Motorola Quality Award | Team 533, Lindenhurst Senior High School, Lindenhurst, NY |
| Rockwell Automation Innovation in Control Award | Team 375, Staten Island Technical High School, Staten Island, NY |
| Xerox Creativity Award | Team 870, Southold High School, Southold, NY |
| Highest Rookie Seed Award | Team 2487, Sayville High School, West Sayville, NY |
| Imagery Award | Team 522, Mckee Vocational High School, Staten Island, NY |
| Underwriters Laboratory Industrial Safety Award | Team 2010, Champion High School, Warren, OH |
| Rookie All Star Award | Team 2638, Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, NY |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Team 2487, Sayville High School, West Sayville, NY |
| Website Award | Team 2487, Sayville High School, West Sayville, NY |
| Judges Award | Team 570, Glen Cove High School, Glen Cove, NY |
| Judges Award | Team 1358, The Macarthur High School Generals, Levittown, NY |
| Musical Theme | Team 358, Hauppauge High School, Hauppauge, NY |
| Greening Award | Team 871, West Islip High School, West Islip, NY |
|
* The Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate. In addition to the awards distributed by FIRST Regional, SPBLI also recognized Michael Lang of the Great Neck South team of Fred Breithut Regional MVP Award. The Long Island FIRST Regional Competition is run by the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI). *** Descriptions of the criteria of each award are available upon request. **** Photos from the event are available upon request. |
|
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Results from the Deer Park Invitational Postseason Event
All 17 experienced teams participated in the Deer Park Invitational. Copiague and Sewanhaka participated as pre-rookies.
The Award for the Invitational Winners went to the three team alliance of Team 871 from West Islip, Team 369 from Grady HS in Brooklyn, and Team 270from Deer Park.
The Award for the Invitational Finalists went to Team 555 from Montclair, NJ, Team 1751 from Comsewogue, and Team 271 from Bay Shore.
The following politicos attended:
Steven Bellone - Babylon Town Supervisor
Steven Stern - Suffolk County Legislator
Lou D'Amaro - Suffolk County Legislator
Jacqueline A. Gordon - Town of Babylon Councilwoman
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
October 16, 2007
SBPLI-LI FIRST Supports Deer Park Invitational Postseason Event
Competition Showcases Benefits of Robotics Programs on Students, Community
(Deer Park, NY) With school districts managing rising costs and tighter budgets, important programs face cuts or elimination. The School Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. is highlighting the importance of middle school and high school robotics programs with its support of the Third Annual Deer Park Invitational. The post season robotics competition is to be held in the gymnasium at Deer Park High School on Saturday, October 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
School robotics programs immerse youngsters in the science of physics and the field of engineering. They provide an enjoyable, engaging learning environment and they enhance problem solving skills, cooperation and teamwork.
The Invitational is designed to showcase the benefits of robotics programs on students, schools and their communities. Residents, teachers and administrators from Deer Park and other Long Island school districts are invited to attend.
"The competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives," said Fred Breithut, founder of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. "Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college."
Teams from 17 high schools have entered the competition thus far: Baldwin, Bay Shore, Comsewogue, Deer Park, Hauppauge, Hicksville, Miller Place, Plainedge, Plainview/Old Bethpage, Port Washington, Roosevelt, Sachem, Smithtown, Walt Whitman, and West Islip as well as Grady High School in Brooklyn and a team from Montclair, New Jersey. In addition, Copiague, Sayville and Sewanhaka high schools have been invited to participate as pre-rookies using robots borrowed from experienced teams.
Participating teams will be using the robots they built for the 2007 regional competition, held at Hofstra University in March. At the event, students will navigate their robots, some weighing as much as 135 pounds, to shoot balls into a goal and drive the robot up a ramp onto a platform. The competition runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; qualifying rounds will take place in the morning and elimination rounds will follow in the afternoon.
"We invite other potential rookie teams to join us, work with veteran teams, and have the opportunity to drive a robot to give them a flavor for the program which they would not otherwise have," said Janet Anderson, Director of the LI FIRST Robotics Program.
For more information on the Deer Park Invitational, or to find out how to register a team for the competition, call Chuck Burg of Deer Park High School at 631-274-4100. For more information about SBPLI and the FIRST Robotics Competition, call (631) 692-2962 or visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
October 4, 2007
SBPLI-LI FIRST Kicks Off the 2007-2008 Regional Robotics Competition Season
Hauppauge High School’s Robotic Team Demonstrates Their Winning Design
(Hauppauge, NY) Fred Breithut, Founder and Chairman of SBPLI, Inc.-LI First is pictured surrounded by student members of the Hauppauge High School Robotics Team, the Robotics Eagles, and taking a closer look at the team's robot.
Joining the students at the far right are (left to right) Rob Wankmuller, Hauppauge High School Science Department Chairperson; Mark McLeod, manager of the Cyberwarfare Integration Network at Northrop Grumman and mentor of the Eagles Team; Christine O'Connor, Hauppauge High School Principal and Patricia Sullivan-Kriss, Hauppauge Superintendent of Schools.
The students, who conceived, designed and built the robot for competition in 2007 regional and national competitions, demonstrated their robot's capabilities for representatives from various technology businesses and school officials from across Long Island. The meeting was held at Hauppauge High School to discuss entry and participation in the 2008 SBPLI, Inc. - Long Island FIRST Regional Competition. For more information about SBPLI and the FIRST Robotics Competition, call (631) 692-2962 or visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
May 2, 2007
Nassau BOCES Honors Frederick W. Breithut with the 'Education Partner' Award
Pictured (left-right): Gale Ross-Srulevich, Board Member, Nassau BOCES; Fred Breithut, Founder and President, School Business Partnerships of Long Island; and Michael Weinick, Board Member, Nassau BOCES. Breithut was honored at the inaugural Nassau BOCES "Education Partner" Awards Gala as one of the “most influential people for public education in Nassau County. He was recognized for the contribution his organization, SBPLI, has made in the lives of Nassau BOCES students and schools. The dinner was held on April 25th at the Woodbury Country Club. For more information about SBPLI and the 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition call (631) 692-2962.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
April 3, 2007
REGIONAL WINNERS OF FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Teams Advance to Championship, Others Win Honors for Design, Sportsmanship, Partnership
(Melville – NY) On March 30th and 31st, thousands of spectators gathered in Hempstead at Hofstra University's Arena to watch 41 teams of high school students compete at the SBPLI, Inc. Long Island Regional Robotics competition. The students' goal was to earn a spot at the FIRST USA Championship, to be held April 12th through 14th at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta GA. Twenty teams received honors and recognition that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses and communities.
"All teams demonstrated tremendous teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking, but these winners went above and beyond to overcome the challenges of the competition," said Fred Breithut, Founder & Chairman of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, sponsors of the Long Island Regional FIRST Competition. "The fun and excitement of the competition was evident as many students, professional mentors, school groups and community members caught the spirit and came to cheer on their favorite teams as engineering and technology at work surpassed the excitement of a championship athletic event."
With the hope of winning one of several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot that solves a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. The students gathered to compete with their robots in this year's game, "Rack n' Roll" which is played with two alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three teams each, competing in 2 minute 15 second matches. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by placing inflated tubes on a center rack in various combinations and configurations and by having robots on a platform at the end of the match.
Winners of the SBPLI, Inc. Regional awards include:
| Award | Winner |
| Regional Chairman's Award* (Highest award of the competition) |
Aviation HS, Long Island City, NY** |
| Reginal Engineering Inspiration Award (Second highest award of the competition) | Somerville HS, Somerville, NJ** |
| Fred Breithut Award | Morgan Poulus-Keating From Patchogue-Medford, NY |
| Regional Winner #1 | Salmon River HS, Potsdam, NY** |
| Regional Winner #2 | Perry Meridian, Indianapolis, IN** |
| Regional Winner #3 | Island Trees HS, Levittown, NY** |
| Regional Finalist #1 | Hauppauge HS, Hauppauge, NY |
| Regional Finalist #2 |
West Babylon School Dist, West Babylon, NY |
| Regional Finalist #3 |
Port Richmond HS, Staten Island, NY |
| Rookie All Star Award (Highest rookie award) |
Walt Whitman HS, Huntington Station, NY** |
| Highest Rookie Seed Award |
Walt Whitman HS, Huntington Station, NY |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Westbury HS, Old Westbury, NY |
| Judges Award |
Sachem Central School Dist, Farmingville, NY |
| Judges Award | Salmon River HS, Potsdam, NY |
| Imagery Award | Chapin HS, New York, NY |
| Award |
Patchogue-Medford HS, Medford, NY |
| Xerox Creativity Award |
West Babylon School Dist, West Babylon, NY |
| Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award |
Bay Shore High School, Bay Shore, NY |
| Entrepreneurship Award |
Baldwin Senior High School, Baldwin, NY |
| Website Award | Chapin High School, New York, NY |
| Woodie Flowers Award | Plainview-Old Bethpage Central Schools, Plainview, NY |
| Autodesk Visualization Award | Southold, NY |
| General Motors Industrial Design Award | Perry Meridian, Indianapolis, IN |
| Motorola Quality Award | Plainview-Old Bethpage Central Schools, Plainview, NY |
| Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award | Hauppauge HS, Hauppauge, NY |
| Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award | William Floyd HS, Mastic Beach, NY |
| Award | Chapin HS, New York, NY |
| Outstanding Volunteer Award | Paul Controne |
| Outstanding Volunteer Award | Scott Schuler |
| *The Chairman's Award is the most
prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the
goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to
emulate. **Denotes teams that qualify to participate in the National Championship to be held in Atlanta, GA. ***Descriptions of the criteria of each award are available upon request ****Photos from the event are available upon request. |
|
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
March 6, 2007
Teens Exhibit Prowess for Designing and Building 130-Pound Robots to Compete at Long Island FIRST Robotics Regional Competition - Robotics Competition Featuring 40 School Districts is Set for March 29 - 31
(Melville, NY) The School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor
of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, announced that students
from 40 high schools, including 34 local school districts, have been tasked with
the challenge and excitement of designing and building an original robot culminating
in the Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
Regional Competition. The competition will be held March 30 and 31 at Hofstra
University in Hempstead, NY, at the Hofstra Arena from 9am to 5pm on March 30,
and from 9am to 4pm on March 31. The students will compete for honors and recognition
that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact
partnerships among schools, businesses, and communities.
FIRST was founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who first introduced the Segway™ Human Transporter (HT) four years ago. He created FIRST with a goal to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools, and communities. Currently
in its 19th year, the FIRST Robotics Competition in 2007 will reach more than
32,000 high-school-aged young people on about 1,300 teams in regional events
representing every state in the United States and several other countries, including
Israel and Brazil. More than 1,000 students will compete in the Long Island Regional
to earn a spot at the Championship April 12-14 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta,
GA.
“The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives,” said Fred Breithut, president of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), and sponsor of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. “Many
of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on
to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment
opportunities with sponsoring companies.”
Over a six-week timeframe, students work with their professional mentors to design
a robot that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create their 130-pound robots, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students. Students received their kit of parts on Jan. 6 and have until Feb. 22 to complete their robot. This year’s competition is a game called “Rack n’ Roll.”
“Rack n’ Roll” is played by two alliances, each composed of three teams. The object of “Rack n’ Roll” is
for individual robots to move plastic, doughnut-shaped game pieces around a field,
ultimately placing them on a center rack in specific configurations in order
to earn points. Points can also be earned by having the robot in the Home Zone
at the end of the game.
Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic
communities. Surveys conducted by the Center for Essential Management Services found that participating students’ attitudes about science, math, teamwork and the working world significantly improved after participating. The students’ self image also improved, particularly among minority groups. Also,
interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring local companies
increased.
This season, participating FIRST students are also eligible to apply for almost
$8 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies
that will be announced at the FIRST Championship in April. Through their participation
in the 2006 competition, Long Island students walked away with more than $590,000
in college scholarships. In 2006, Miller Place High School won the Chairman’s Award, which is the competition’s
most prestigious award because it recognizes the team that embodies the goals
and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
SBPLI was founded in 1984 by its Fred Breithut to develop partnerships between local high schools and businesses that would provide students with practical experience, while helping the business community develop its future workforce. More than 70 partnerships have been formed. In 1999, Long Island FIRST was formed for the purpose of developing a Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics competition. The Long Island Regional has since grown with 40 teams registered for the 2007 competition. The increase in participation among high school students and local business demonstrates the importance of supporting the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.
The SBPLI L.I. FIRST sponsors and volunteers come from some of the most highly regarded companies and organizations in the Long Island region. This year’s
major sponsors are New York State Sen. Owen Johnson, FESTO, and SBPLI. Other
sponsors include J.P. Morgan Chase, BAE Systems, Bethpage Federal Credit Union,
Northrop Grumman, DeVry University, and Stony Brook University.
FESTO, a local corporation and continual supporter provides mentors to a number of local teams.
“We have found that this competition truly works to inspire our young people to pursue careers in the engineering field,” said Hans Zobel, CEO of Festo. “The
students of today are the workforce of tomorrow. We owe it to the communities
we live in by helping with this event.”
Breithut of SBPLI L.I. FIRST would like to ask local businesses to consider joining Mr. Zobel and other Long Island technology leaders in supporting this year’s
competition. Companies interested in sponsoring the 2007 Long Island Regional
Competition or those that would like more information about the Robotics competition
can call (631) 297-8592, or contact Fred Breithut at (631) 692-2962.
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NEWS BRIEF
Theresa G. Schaefer, Nassau BOCES
(516) 369-2208
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
February 6, 2007
Nassau BOCES names 14 to receive its inaugural “Education Partner” awards
(GARDEN CITY, N.Y.) What do you get when you bring together a group of outstanding
educators, administrators, board members, corporate executives, community leaders
and volunteers? You get the most influential people for public education in Nassau
County, an honor bestowed upon 14 individuals by Nassau BOCES through its inaugural “Education
Partner” awards program.
Education’s answer to the “Oscars,” the Nassau BOCES “Education Partner” award
recognizes those whose impact on public education in Nassau County can be measured
in very tangible ways.
“Response to our ‘Education Partner’ awards program has been extraordinary,” says Dr. James D. Mapes, Nassau BOCES district superintendent. “Through
this innovative program, everyone who has ever been influenced by public education
had an opportunity to show appreciation by nominating outstanding candidates
for the award.”
During the nominating period, more than 1,700 people visited the Nassau BOCES
Web site, which recorded 140 nominations for the award. “One of the nicest things about this program is that just like Nassau BOCES it is open to people from all walks of life, and we are proud that our honorees reflect this diversity,” says
Dr. Mapes.
The 14 honorees are:
- Thomas W. Alfano, New York State assemblyman
- Mairead Barrett, founder and board member of New Ground
- Frederick W. Breithut, founder and president, School-Business Partnerships
of Long Island Inc., and founder and president of Long Island FIRST Robotics
Program
- Dr. Constance R. Clark, superintendent, Westbury Public Schools
- Lorraine Deller, executive director, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association
- George Farber, president, Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau
County
- Dr. Charles Fowler, president, School Leadership, LLC
- Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley, superintendent of schools, Malverne Union Free School
District
- Michael Keany, director, Long Island School Leadership Center
- Andrew Joseph Koslosky, chairman of the board, The Josephine Foundation
- Vincent J. LaSala, executive administrator, retired, Nassau BOCES
- Dr. Henry Teoh, distinguished service professor, State University of New York College
at Old Westbury
- Gloria Virgile, executive director, What Color Is Love, Inc.
- John C. Waffenschmidt, vice president-business development, Covanta Energy
Corporation
The “Most Influential People for Public Education” Named Add One
They will receive their “Education Partner” awards at a gala dinner in their
honor hosted by the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation on Wednesday, April 25,
2007, at the Woodbury Country Club.
A strategic education partner with local school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES chose this innovative program to mark its 40th Anniversary and to pay tribute to those who share its commitment to providing the best possible education for learners of all ages and abilities.
For more information about the Nassau BOCES “Education Partner” awards program,
visit www.nassauboces.org/40th.
About Nassau BOCES
Established in 1967, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County (Nassau BOCES) is a public agency that serves the 300 schools and 200,000 students in the 56 local school districts of Nassau County. Nassau BOCES creates, develops and implements those programs and services that would otherwise be too costly for individual school districts. As a result, county residents enjoy all the benefits of locally controlled schools while reaping the financial savings of a large cooperative.
It offers more than 130 cost-effective, shared programs and services, including
career training for high-school students and adults, special education, alternative
schools, technology education, and teacher training, as well as dozens of programs
to expand educational opportunities and help districts operate more efficiently.
Visit www.nassauboces.org for
news, information and educational updates.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
January 23, 2007
School - Business Partnerships Reach New Level on Long Island
SPBLI Joins Local Businesses to Keep Long Island’s Technology Talent at Home
In an effort to facilitate networking opportunities for its alumni, the School
- Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. recently launched a new system
on its Web site that allows technology and engineering graduates who have participated
in SBPLI’s regional robotics competition to contact sponsor companies.
By submitting contact information at www.sbpli-lifirst.org/alumniwelcome.php,
alumni can opt to have their information reviewed by the human resources departments
at these companies should internship or full-time positions become available.
The Web site also provides company profiles and links to their Web sites. The
goal is to encourage and provide direct communication with sponsor companies.
“This really completes SBPLI’s program and brings its mission full circle,” said Fred Breithut, founder and president of SBPLI. “By connecting graduates with Long Island’s
technology companies, we can keep our bright engineering and technology students
here on Long Island and advance local competition at the same time.”
Companies such as JPMorgan Chase, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and Stony Brook
University have all supported SBPLI’s mission and Long Island’s FIRST robotics
competition, which takes place each March at Hofstra University.
For more information about the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, or how your company can become a partner, please contact (631) 692-2962 or visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org/sponsors.html.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
January 15, 2007
Baldwin Team Receives Certificate for Having Created This Year’s Competition Theme Song
Baldwin High School was one of more than 30 teams to attend the 2007 Kickoff
for this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition. They gathered with participating
Long Island high schools on Saturday, January 6th at Stony Brook University
for a presentation and simulcast broadcast from New Hampshire. After the presentation,
each team received a kit of parts to help them build a 120 pound robot. The
teams will have six weeks to construct the robot and prepare for the upcoming
competition to be held on March 29-31 at Hofstra University.
The Baldwin team is pictured here with the certificate of achievement they
received
as the creators of the “LI FIRST 2007 Musical Theme.” The team responded to a
contest SPBLI proposed in the beginning of the school year for the best original
composition. Baldwin’s track was selected by the committee from among 6 entries
and will be played at all events and used for promotional materials. The distinction
also netted the team a $1000 cash prize to be used toward completion of their
robot.
For more information about SBPLI and the annual FIRST Robotics Competition
call (631) 692-2962.
Listen to the winning theme music below.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
Ocober 27, 2006
TEAMWORK AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION DEFINE SECOND ANNUAL DEER PARK INVITATIONAL OFFSEASON EVENT
Competition Highlights Benefits of School Robotics Programs for Students
A spirit of cooperation and teamwork permeated the gymnasium
at Deer Park High School on Saturday, October 21, 2006 as robots took center
court during the
Deer Park Invitational. The invitational is a yearly offseason robotics competition
sponsored by the Deer Park UFSD, School Business Partnerships of Long Island,
Inc (SBPLI) and Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science
and Technology). Friendly competition coaxed problem solving skills and stellar
sportsmanship from the ten high school teams, creating an engaging learning
environment focused on the science of physics and the field of engineering.
The 2nd Annual Deer Park Invitational was designed and implemented to showcase the benefits of robotics programs on students, schools and their communities. With the exception of two rookie teams (Walt Whitman and Southampton), who utilized borrowed robots, participating teams used the robots they built for the 2006 regional competition, held at Hofstra University in March. Students navigated their robots in a game called AIM HIGH, participating in Practice Rounds and Fun Matches early in the morning and then Qualifying Matches and Elimination Rounds later in the day. Each round/match was played with two alliances, composed of three teams each. The object was to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring balls in a center or corner goals, and by having robots on a platform at the end of the match.
Residents, teachers and administrators from Deer Park and other Long Island school districts attended the event which included many matches featuring rookie and pre-rookie drivers preparing for the 2007 regional competition. The winners of the invitational were teams from the following districts: Port Washington, Hauppauge, Baldwin, and Plainedge. Finalists included: Bay Shore, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Deer Park, and Miller Place.
"We planned this event not only as a competition about the design and building of 130 pound sophisticated robots, but as an opportunity to create an atmosphere whereby students can also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills, thereby enriching their lives. We were not disappointed," said
Fred Breithut, founder of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc.
“It was wonderful to have been able to provide an opportunity to include rookie teams, giving them a chance to gain practical experience, while competing with veteran teams,” said Janet Anderson, director of the LI FIRST robotics program. She continued, “It
is always our hope that students will be inspired to turn their affinity for
science and math into a career path, leading them to study engineering, technology
or science in college.”
For more information on the Deer Park Invitational or the LI FIRST robotics program, please contact (631) 692-2962.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
March 29, 2006
REGIONAL WINNERS OF FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Teams Advance to Championship, Others Win Honors for Design, Sportsmanship, Partnership
(Melville – NY) On
March 24 and 25, over 10,000 spectators gathered at Hofstra Arena, Hofstra
University in Hempstead to watch 39 teams of high
school students compete at the Long Island Regional competition to earn a spot
at the FIRST USA Championship to be held April 27-29 at the Georgia Dome in
Atlanta GA. Several teams received honors and recognition that rewarded design
excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between
schools, businesses and communities.
“The winners demonstrated tremendous teamwork, professionalism and strategic
thinking to overcome the challenges of the competition,” said Fred Breithut,
President of the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, sponsors of the
Long Island Regional FIRST Competition. “The fun and excitement of the
competition was evident as many students, professional mentors, school groups
and community members caught the spirit and came to cheer on their favorite teams
as engineering and technology at work surpassed the excitement of a championship
athletic event.”
With the hope of winning one of several coveted awards, high school students
worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot that solves a problem
using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. The students gathered to compete
with their robots in this year’s game, “AIM HIGH” which is
played with two alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three teams each,
competing in each match. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than
your opponent alliance by scoring balls in a center or corner goals, and/or by
having robots on a platform at the end of the match.
Winners of the Long Island Regional awards include:
| Award | School |
| Regional Chairman's Award (highest award of the competition) | Miller Place High School** |
| Regional Woodie Flowers Award | Pat Hughes from Miller Place High School |
| Engineering Inspiration Award (second highest award of the competition) | Aviation High School In Long Island City** |
| Regional Winners Alliance | Hauppauge High School** Southold High School** Bayshore High School** |
| Regional Finalist Alliance |
Patchogue-Medford High School Plainview-Old Bethpage High School Hicksville High School |
| Highest Rookie Seed | Port Washington High School |
| Rookie All Star Award (highest rookie award) | Port Washington High School** |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Freeport High School |
| Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award | William Floyd High School |
| Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award | Hauppauge High School |
| General Motors Industrial Design Award | Baldwin High School |
| Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award | Miller Place High School |
|
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship |
Plainview Old Bethpage High School |
| Motorola Quality Award | Mt. Sinai High School |
| Xerox Creativity Award | Patchogue-Medford High School |
| Imagery Award | Southold High School |
| Radio Shack Innovation in Control Award | CT public & Technical School & Home Schooled Students |
| Web Site Design Award | Newton High School, Elmhurst NY |
| Autodesk Visualization Award-Regional | Longwood High School |
| Judge's Award(impact to their school's appreciation of, and knowledge in science and technology) | Newton High School, Elmhurst NY Westhampton Beach High School |
| Fred Breithut Award | Isaiah Watson From Roosevelt High School |
| UL Industrial Safety Award | West Islip High School |
| Safety Recognition | Hicksville High School Comsewogue High School Port Washington High School |
| *The Chairman's Award is the most
prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the
goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to
emulate. **Denotes teams that qualify to participate in the National Championship to be held in Atlanta, GA. ***Descriptions of the criteria of each award are available upon request ****Photos from the event are available upon request. |
|
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
February 15, 2006
TEENS EXHIBIT PROWESS FOR DESIGNING AND BUILDING 150 POUND ROBOTS THAT COMPETE AT LONG ISLAND FIRST ROBOTICS REGIONAL COMPETITION
Robotics Competition Featuring 38 School Districts Set for March 24th-25th
(Melville, NY) The School- Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor
of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition announced that high
school students from 38 high schools, including 29 local school districts,
have been tasked with the challenge and excitement of designing and building
an original robot culminating in the Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Competition. The competition
will be held on March 24th and 25th at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
at the Hofstra Arena from 9:00a.m. to 5:00P.m. on the 24th, and from 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. on the 25th. The students will compete for honors and recognition
that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact
partnerships among schools, businesses and communities.
FIRST was founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who first introduced the Segway™ Human
Transporter (HT) four years ago. He created FIRST with a goal to inspire an
appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and communities. Currently
in its eighteenth year, the FIRST Robotics Competition in 2006 will reach over
28,000 high-school-aged young people on over 1,125 teams in 33 regional events
representing almost every state and several other countries. More than 1,000
students will compete in the Long Island Regional to earn a spot at the Championship
to be held April 27-29 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.
“
The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of
sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism,
teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives,” said Fred Breithut,
President of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) and sponsor
of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. “Many of
our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on
to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment
opportunities with sponsoring companies.”
Over a six-week timeframe students work with their professional mentors to
design a robot that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and
a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create their 150
pound robots, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure
the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination
of students. Students received their kit of parts on January 7th and
have until February 21st to complete their robot. This years competition
is a game called “AIM HIGH.”
AIM HIGH is played with two alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three
teams each, competing in each match. The object of the game is to attain
a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring balls in a center or
corner goals, and/or by having robots on a platform at the end of the match. There
are point values associated with each of these actions. As always, there
is a defined period of time during which the robots will operate in autonomous
mode.
Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic
communities. Surveys conducted by the Center for Essential Management
Services found that participating students’ attitudes about science,
math, teamwork and the working world significantly improved after participating. The
students’ self image also improved, particularly among minority groups. Also,
interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring local companies
increased.
This season, participating FIRST students are also eligible to apply for over
$8.0 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies
that will be announced at the FIRST Championship in April. Through their
participation in the 2005 competition, eight Long Island students applied for
and earned scholarships to technology programs from prestigious colleges worth
a combined $250,000. Between 2002 and 2006, Long Island students walked
away with over $1,025,000 in college scholarships. In 2005, Hauppauge
High School won the Chairman’s Award, which is the competition’s
most prestigious award because it recognizes the team that embodies the goals
and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
SBPLI was founded in 1984 by its President, Fred Breithut, with the goal of
developing partnerships between local high schools and businesses that would
provide students with practical experience, while helping the business community
develop its future workforce. Over 70 partnerships have been formed. In
1999, Long Island FIRST was formed for the purpose of developing a Long Island
Regional FIRST Robotics competition. The Long Island Regional has since
grown with 38 teams registered for the 2006 competition. The increase
in participation among high school students and local business demonstrates
the importance of supporting the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.
The SBPLI – L.I. FIRST sponsors and volunteers come from some of the
most highly regarded companies and organizations in the Long Island region. This
year’s Co-Sponsors are New York State Senator Owen Johnson, FESTO and
SBPLI. Other major sponsors include Hofstra University, J.P. Morgan Chase,
BAE Systems, EDO, Northrop Grumman, DeVry University, and SUNY Stony Brook.
FESTO, a major local corporation and continual supporter provides mentors to
a number of local teams. “We have found that this competition
truly works to inspire our young people to pursue careers in the engineering
field. The students of today are the workforce of tomorrow. We
owe it to the communities we live in by helping with this event,” said
Hans Zobel, CEO of FESTO.
Breithut of SBPLI – L.I. FIRST would like to ask local businesses to
consider joining Mr. Zobel and other Long Island technology leaders in supporting
this year’s competition. Companies interested in sponsoring the 2006
Long Island Regional Competition or those that would like more information
about the Robotics competition can call (631) 297-8592, or contact Fred Breithut
at (631) 692-2962.
##
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
November 3, 2005
Teamwork and Friendly Competition define SBPLI-LI FIRST Deer Park Invitational Preseason Event
Competition Highlights Benefits of School Robotics Programs For Students
A spirit of cooperation and teamwork permeated the gymnasium at Deer Park High School on Saturday, September 24, 2005 as robots took center court during the Deer Park Invitational, a preseason robotics competition sponsored by the School Business Partnerships of Long Island. Friendly competition coaxed problem solving skills and stellar sportsmanship from the twelve high school teams, including one team from Brooklyn, creating an engaging learning environment focused on the science of physics and the field of engineering.
In recent years, the School Business Partnership of Long Island, Inc. has held its preseason LI FIRST robotics competition at the Long Island Business and Technology Center in Great River. This year, that event was supplanted by the Deer Park Invitational, which was designed and implemented to showcase the benefits of robotics programs on students, schools and their communities. Participating teams utilized the robots they built for the 2005 regional competition, held at Hofstra University in March. Students navigated their robots to place tetrahedrons (polyhedrons with four faces) onto triangular goals, participating in qualifying rounds during the morning, followed by elimination rounds in the afternoon.
Residents, teachers and administrators from Deer Park and other Long Island school districts attended the event which included many matches featuring rookie drivers preparing for the 2006 regional competition. So inspired by the event's success Deer Park Superintendent Richard Organisciak has pledged future support for the program.
The final round, to determine the best two out of three, proved very exciting as each alliance had taken a match.
The Invitational Winner was the alliance of teams from Miller Place, Hauppauge and Brooklyn. The Invitational Finalist was \the alliance of teams from Deer Park, Plainview-Old Bethpage, and Miller Place.
The fledgling teams from Freeport and Comsewogue competed in matches with robots from Plainview-Old Bethpage and Miller Place respectively.
"We planned this event not only as a competition about the design and building of sophisticated robots, but as an opportunity to create an atmosphere whereby students can also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills, thereby enriching their lives. We were not disappointed," said Fred Breithut, founder of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. "More than once during this competition every team exhibited what one spectator termed as "gracious professionalism", with one team even going do far as to spend precious time trying to right the toppled robot of a competing team."
"It was wonderful to have been able to provide an opportunity to include rookie teams, giving them a chance to gain practical experience, while competing with veteran teams, "said Janet Anderson, director of the LI FIRST robotics program. She continued, "It is always our hope that students will be inspired to turn their affinity for science and math into a career path, leading them to study engineering, technology or science in college."
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
August 2, 2005
SBPLI-LIRST Regional Robotics Competition Development Council Welcomes Steve Stern as a New Member for 2005-6
The School- Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, recently welcomed new members to its 2005-6 Development Council. The Council is charged with developing the program and raising funds for the upcoming year's competition to be held in the Spring of 2006. Last year, 40 high school teams including over 1,000 students from throughout the Long Island region participated in the event. Stern is representing Congressman Steve Israel on the Council. Pictured with Stern are some of the members of the Council, including (left-right) Joseph Sicinski, BDS Strategic Solutions; Dave Vandergoot, Center for Essential Management Services; Joani Madarash, President, accesslinx; Fred Breithut, President, School Business Partnerships of Long Island - LI FIRST; Steve Stern, Partner, Davidow, Davidow, Siegel & Stern; Dr. James Ruck, Superintendent, Sachem School District; Kristy Golden, South Oaks Hospital; and William Recce, Principal, School Construction Consultants.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
August 2, 2005
SBPLI-LIRST Regional Robotics Competition Development Council Welcomes Ben Parris and David Gabor as New Members for 2005-6
The School- Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, recently welcomed new members to its 2005-6 Development Council. The Council is charged with developing the program and raising funds for the upcoming year's competition to be held in the Spring of 2006. Last year, 40 high school teams including over 1,000 students from throughout the Long Island region participated in the event. Pictured with Parris and Gabor are some of the members of the Council, including (left-right) Fred Breithut, President, School Business Partnerships of Long Island - LI FIRST; Janet Anderson, Director, L.I. FIRST; New Member Ben Parris, Executive Director, Long Island Museum of Science and Technology; New Member David Gabor, Partner, Gabor & Gabor; Dr. Mary Ellen Ellen Freeley, Malverne Superintendent of Schools; John Loonam, Executive Assistant Vice President of Engineering, Northrop Grumman; and Chris Early, President, Early Electronics.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
(631) 375-8770
Fred Breithut
(631) 692-2962
March 22, 2005
REGIONAL WINNERS OF FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Teams Advance to Championship, Others Win Honors for Design, Sportsmanship, Partnership
(Melville - NY) On March 18 and 19, over 10,000 spectators gathered at Hofstra Arena, Hofstra University in Hempstead to watch 40 teams of high school students compete at the Long Island Regional competition to earn a spot at the FIRST USA Championship to be held April 21-23 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta GA. Several teams received honors and recognition that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses and communities.
"The winners demonstrated tremendous teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking to overcome the challenges of the competition," said Fred Breithut, President of the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, sponsors of the Long Island Regional FIRST Competition. "The fun and excitement of the competition was evident as many students, professional mentors, school groups and community members caught the spirit and came to cheer on their favorite teams as engineering and technology at work surpassed the excitement of a championship athletic event."
With the hope of winning one of several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot that solves a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. The students gathered to compete with their robots in this year's game, "Triple Play" which took place on a playing field with a mix of robot and human players. Robots earned points by placing tetras onto triangular goals.
Winners of the Long Island Regional awards include:
| Award | School |
| Regional Chairman's Award (highest award of the competition) | Hauppauge High School** |
| Regional Woodie Flowers Award | Neil Heft, Lindenhurst High School, Mentor from EDO Corp. |
| Engineering Inspiration Award (second highest award of the competition) | Various Eastern CT high schools and home schooled/mentored by the US Coast Guard Academy** |
| Regional Winners Alliance | Plainedge High School** Hauppauge High School** Southold High School** |
| Regional Finalist Alliance | Deer Park High School Bay Shore High School Mount Sinai High School |
| Highest Rookie Seed | Aviation High School |
| Rookie All Star Award (highest rookie award) | Baldwin Senior High School** |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Aviation High School |
| Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award | Miami Coral Park High School, Miami, FL |
| Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award | Mass Academy of Math and Science |
| General Motors Industrial Design Award | Sachem High School |
| Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award | Miller Place High School |
|
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship |
West Islip High School |
| Motorola Quality Award | Plainview Old Bethpage High School |
| Xerox Creativity Award | Lindenhurst High School |
| Imagery Award | Miami Coral Park High School, Miami, FL |
| RadioShack Innovation in Control Award | Smithtown High School |
| Web Site Design Award | U.S. Coast Guard Academy area high schools |
| Autodesk Visualization Award-Regional | Newton High School, Elmhurst, New York |
* The Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
** Denotes teams that qualify to participate in the National Championship to be held in Atlanta, GA.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
June 21, 2004
Long Island Students to Receive Scholarships Valued at $125,000
(Melville, NY) The School - Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition is proud to announce that four Long Island high school students from the 2004 LI-FIRST Robotics competition have been awarded scholarships from accredited institutions in the field of technology.The four students, Andrew Anderson of Port Jefferson, Kristopher Lee of West Islip, Frederick Liguori of Longwood and Gregory Lilly of Miller Place received combined scholarships in the amount of $125,000 over four years. Clarkson University awarded both Anderson and Lee scholarships worth $6000 a year. Liguori received a scholarship from Drexel University valued at $8000 per year. Lilly's scholarship from The Florida Institute of Technology is for $10,000 a year.
This season, participating FIRST students were eligible to apply for over $3.8 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies. Between the 2002 and 2003 competitions, Long Island students walked away with over $400,000 combined in college scholarships. With additional scholarships yet to be announced, the amount of scholarships awarded to Long Island students is likely to grow. As a source of scholarships, the program surpasses Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair.
"The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives," said Fred Breithut, President of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) and sponsor of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. "Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment opportunities with sponsoring companies."
Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. Surveys conducted by the Center for Essential Management Services found that participating students' attitudes about science, math, teamwork and the working world significantly improved after participating. The students' self image also improved, particularly among minority groups. Also, interest in internships and employment opportunities with sponsoring local companies increased.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
Monday, March 22, 2004
REGIONAL WINNERS OF FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Teams Advance to Championship, Others Win Honors for Design, Sportsmanship, Partnership
Melville, NY) On March 19 and 20, Over 10,000 spectators gathered at Suffolk County Community College's Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood to watch 37 teams of high school students compete at the Long Island Regional competition to earn a spot at the Championship held April 15-17 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Several teams received honors and recognition that rewarded design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses and communities."The winners demonstrated tremendous teamwork, professionalism and strategic thinking to overcome the challenges of the competition," said Fred Breithut, President of the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, sponsors of the Long Island Regional FIRST Competition. "The fun and excitement of the competition was evident as many students, professional mentors, school groups and community members caught the spirit and came to cheer on their favorite teams as engineering and technology at work surpassed the excitement of a championship athletic event."
With the hope of winning one of several coveted awards, high school students worked with professional mentors to design and build a robot that solves a problem using a kit of parts and a standard set of rules. The students gathered to compete with their robots in this year's game, "First Frenzy" which took place on a playing field with a mix of robot and human players. Robots earned points by placing balls into goals, with extra points given to teams who ended the round with their robot hanging from the pull-up bar in the center of the field.
Winners of the Long Island Regional awards include:
| Award | School |
| Regional Chairman's Award | West Islip High School |
| Regional Woodie Flowers Award | Brian Buonomo |
| Engineering Inspiration Award | East Islip High School |
| Regional Winner-1 | East Islip High School |
| Regional Winner-2 | General Motors of Canada St. Catharines Engine & Governor Simcoe Secondary School |
| Regional Winner-3 | Clarkson University & Massena High School & Salmon River High School |
| 1st Regional Finalist | Pierson High School |
| 2nd Regional Finalist | East Meadow School District |
| 3rd Regional Finalist | Smithtown High School |
| Highest Rookie Award | Hicksville High School |
| Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award | Shrewsbury High School |
| Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award | General Motors of Canada St. Catharines Engine & Governor Simcoe Secondary School |
| General Motors Industrial Design Award | Mt. Sinai School District |
| Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award | Hauppauge High School |
| Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship | William Floyd High School |
| Motorola Quality Award | East Meadow School District & WT Clarke High School |
| Xerox Creativity Award | Southold Jr. Sr. High School |
| Imagery Award | East Islip High School |
| Leadership in Control Award | Hauppauge High School |
| Web Site Design Award | Shrewsbury High School |
| Autodesk Visualization Award-Regional | General Motors of Canada St. Catharines Engine & Governor Simcoe Secondary School |
| Rookie All-Star Award | Hicksville High School |
| Rookie Inspiration Award | Hicksville High School |
* The Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award of the event and recognizes the team that embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
* Descriptions of the criteria of each award are available upon request.
**Photos from the event are available upon request
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
January 21, 2004
TEENS EXHIBIT PROWESS FOR DESIGNING AND BUILDING 130 POUND ROBOTS THAT COMPETE AT LONG ISLAND FIRST ROBOTICS REGIONAL COMPETITION
Robotics Competition Featuring 37 School Districts Set for March 18-20
(Melville, NY) The School- Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI), sponsor of the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition announced today that high school students from 37 local school districts have been tasked with the challenge and excitement of designing and building an original robot culminating in the Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Competition. The competition will be held on March 18-20 at Suffolk County Community College's Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. Suffolk County Community College is the host and major supporter of the event. The students will compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships among schools, businesses and communities.
FIRST was founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who first introduced the Segway™ Human Transporter (HT) two years ago. He created FIRST with a goal to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and communities. Currently in its sixteenth year, the FIRST Robotics Competition will expand its reach to over 23,000 students representing approximately 930 teams from almost every state in the U.S. and abroad. More than 1,000 students will compete in the Long Island Regional to earn a spot at the Championship to be held April 15-17 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.
“The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives,” said Fred Breithut, President of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) and sponsor of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. “Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment opportunities with sponsoring companies.”
Over a six-week timeframe students work with their professional mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create their 130 pound robots, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students. Students received their kit of parts on January 10th and have until February 21st to complete their robot. This year's competition is a game called “First Frenzy: Raising the Bar,” which takes place on a playing field with a mix of robot and human players. Robots and humans alike can earn points by throwing balls into goals, and extra points will be given to the team who ends up with their robot hanging from the pull-up bar in the center of the field.
Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. Surveys conducted by the Center for Essential Management Services found that participating students' attitudes about science, math, teamwork and the working world significantly improved after participating. The students' self image also improved, particularly among minority groups. Also, interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring local companies increased.
This season, participating FIRST students are also eligible to apply for over $1.75 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies that will be announced at the FIRST Championship in April. At the 2003 national championships, Long Island students walked away with over $400,000 in college scholarships. In 2003, Longwood CSD won the Chairman's Award, which is the competition's most prestigious award because it recognizes the team that embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST and best represents a model for other teams to emulate.
SBPLI was founded in 1984 by its President, Fred Breithut, with the goal of developing partnerships between local high schools and businesses that would provide students with practical experience, while helping the business community develop its future workforce. Over 70 partnerships have been formed. In 1999, Long Island FIRST was formed for the purpose of developing a Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics competition. The Long Island Regional has since grown with 37 teams registered for the 2004 competition. The increase in participation among high school students and local business demonstrates the importance of supporting the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.
The SBPLI – L.I. FIRST sponsors and volunteers come from some of the most highly regarded companies and organizations in the Long Island region. This year's Co-Sponsors are New York State Senator Owen Johnson, FESTO and SBPLI. Suffolk County Community College is the host and major supporter of the event. Other major sponsors include J.P. Morgan Chase, EDO, School Construction Consultants, Hofstra University, Stony Brook University, Stalco Construction, Park East Construction.
FESTO, a major local corporation and continual supporter provides mentors to a number of local teams. “We have found that this competition truly works to inspire our young people to pursue careers in the engineering field. The students of today are the workforce of tomorrow. We owe it to the communities we live in by helping with this event,” said Hans Zobel, CEO of FESTO.
Breithut of SBPLI – L.I. FIRST would like to ask local businesses to consider joining Mr. Zobel and other Long Island technology leaders in supporting this year's competition. Companies interested in sponsoring the 2004 Long Island Regional Competition or those that would like more information about the Robotics competition can call (631) 207-1057.
* Attached, please find a list of schools to be represented.
**Photos and Center for Essential Management Services Survey results available
upon request.
Long Island School Districts Participating in the 2004 Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition
Nassau County
Carle Place
East Meadow
Glen Cove
Hicksville
Island Trees
Levittown
Locust Valley
Malverne
Plainedge
Plainview-Old Bethpage
Suffolk County
Bay Shore
Deer Park
East Islip
Hauppauge
Lindenhurst
Longwood
Middle Country
Miller Place
Mount Sinai
Patchogue-Medford
Port Jefferson
Sachem
Sag Harbor
Smithtown
Southold
West Babylon
Westhampton Beach
West Islip
William Floyd
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Zaher, PRMG
(631) 207-1057
September 24, 2003
SBPLI Long Island FIRST Release Report of Student Evaluations from 2003 FIRST Robotics Regional Competition
Statistics Show Science and Technology Likely to Play Large Role in Future Educational and Career Pursuits
(Jericho-NY) The School-Business Partnership of Long Island, the coordinator of the Long Island FIRST Robotics Competition announced the results of its recently completed evaluation of the experiences of completed by students who participated in the 2002-2003 competition. Over 1000 students from thirty-five Long Island School Districts attended the event at Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood. The results, over the last three years, continue to indicate that students are more likely to pursue engineering and science related career directions after they completed the robotics program.
The competition challenges students to design and build an original robot, working with professional mentors, that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. Once these young 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. “The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork, and mentoring skills that enrich their lives,” said Fred Breithut, President of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) and coordinator of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. “Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment opportunities with sponsoring companies.”
The results from the evaluation were based on surveys given both before and after the competition. The assessment, conducted by the Center for Essential Management Services, found that participating students' attitudes about science, technology and the working world significantly improved after participating as did their confidence in managing future school and career challenges. Also, interest in internships and employment opportunities with sponsoring local companies increased.
An essential element of the competition is its focus on teamwork and problem solving. However, this year, as opposed to prior years, students had a slightly less interest in working on teams, although they all seemed to agree that it was one of the most important skills in life skills to learn. According to the researchers, Dave Vandergoot, Ph.D. and Kristie Golden, of the Center for Essential Management Services and members of the LI FIRST Development Council, “A possible reason for the decline of interest in teamwork is the difficulty this past year that many teams had in raising funds and resources for the varied activities associated with the competition. Designing and building the robot is a fun challenge but doing it with inadequate resources adds increased complexity and frustration, thus straining capability for teamwork. Yet, learning how to work with less is an important experience in its own right.”
As with previous years, results show that students were well satisfied with the competition. Students indicated an increase in self-esteem and assertiveness, reinforcing the value of mastering technology in today's world. The LI FIRST Robotics Competition brings out the best in students in many different and important ways.
The competition challenged students to design and build an original robot, working with professional mentors, that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. Once these young 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. “The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots. These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork, and mentoring skills that enrich their lives,” said Fred Breithut, President of School-Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) and coordinator of the Long Island FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. “Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also ensue employment opportunities with sponsoring companies.”
A list of participating high schools is attached.
*Evaluation Report sent via e-mail and available upon request.
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