University of South Carolina to Host FIRST LEGO® League 10th Anniversary Global Summit
Over 150 Worldwide Partners Converge on USC Campus to Prepare for 2008/09 “Climate Connections” Challenge Season 
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FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, announced today that its FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) program will kick off its 10th anniversary season with the first-ever global Operational Partners Conference hosted by the University of South Carolina.
"We are very pleased and excited to welcome our FLL Partners to the campus of long-time FIRST supporter, USC," said FIRST President, Paul R. Gudonis adding, "USC and the College of Engineering and Computing recognize the importance of getting students of all ages excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. FIRST thanks USC for generously hosting our event, demonstrating the university’s continued commitment to creating opportunities in science and technology for young people, in South Carolina and beyond."
More than 150 Operational Partners representing non-profit organizations, universities, and corporations that organize the FIRST LEGO League around the world are expected to attend the sessions during the four-day conference. Partners from North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Europe and South Africa will receive training on the upcoming "Climate Connections" Challenge -- which presents the topic of climate in a broad view, inspiring kids to consider their local community as a part of the complicated systems of the globe – and program updates from FIRST and The LEGO® Group. FLL Partners will participate in panels and roundtable discussions on best practices and issues and attend a special recognition 10th anniversary celebration dinner.
"As one of the early proponents for FIRST initiatives at the University of South Carolina, I'm thrilled that we have the opportunity to host the 2008 FLL Global Partner Conference," said USC Professor Roger Dougal. "FIRST programs are singularly influential in driving the kind of intellectual inquiry that is so important to the technical leadership of our country. Graduates of FIRST programs represent some of the best students that we teach in the USC College of Engineering and Computing."
FIRST LEGO League engages children, 9 to 14 (10 to 16 outside the U.S. and Canada), to use a LEGO MINDSTORMSTM NXT robotics platform and authentic scientific research to solve real-world engineering challenges facing today’s scientists. In its 10th anniversary year, FLL anticipates its biggest season ever, with 135,000 children in 40 countries competing in hundreds of qualifying events and Championship Tournaments.
USC's College of Engineering and Computing is committed to shaping the new face of engineering and computing for the 21st century. Since signing on as the South Carolina FIRST LEGO League State Tournament Partner in 2002, USC has expanded its FIRST involvement to include the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students. In addition, USC has worked extensively with academic and government institutions in South Carolina to ensure the expansion and sustainability of all FIRST initiatives in South Carolina.
USC hosts and invitees include Mark Becker, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Michael Amiridis, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing; John Weidner, FLL Partner 2003-2006 and FLL Challenge Theme Consultant for the 2007 "Power Puzzle" Challenge; Harry Ploehn, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies; Roger Dougal, Professor and former FIRST Robotics Competition Regional Co-Chair; Lee Stogner, Chair, South Carolina Engineering Cluster; Donn Griffith, Director of Outreach, Recruitment and Retention and former FLL Partner; and Ralph White, the Professor who brought FIRST programs to USC.
ABOUT FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
For more information about the conference at USC, contact Dr. Donn Griffith, Outreach, Recruitment, Retention Director, Swearingen Engineering Center, Columbia, SC 29208, 803.777.7505 voice, 803.777.0027 fax, donn@engr.sc.edu
