On Saturday, January 4, the Shiley School of Engineering hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Kickoff regional event in the Chiles Center. More than 800 high school students and teachers from Oregon and Southern Washington came to UP for the nationwide NASA telecast of the kickoff for this year’s competition. Moderators and volunteers for the event came from throughout the local technology industry. Engineering professor Debbie Munro participated in the formal program (as did engineering student Natalie Janson) and described the benefits of a UP engineering education. Students and teachers were also given tours of Shiley Hall.
Engineering dean Sharon Jones extends her thanks to all who made the event a resounding success, including engineering technician supervisor Allen Hansen and his staff, Bill Reed and the events staff, Dan Sandaal with information services, and athletics director Scott Leykam, who coordinated events in such as way as to allow the use of the Chiles Center during basketball season.
For more information on FIRST go to this link. For information on Saturday’s event contact Kim Spir, engineering, at 7314 or spir@up.edu.