DURHAM, N.H. – Sixty-four teams of students in grades 9-12 from around New England will participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition district championship April 6-8, 2017, in the Whittemore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire. The event is free and open to the public.

FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. With strict rules, limited resources and time limits, each team is challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. This year the challenge is Steamworks, an industrial airship-themed game played by two alliances of three robots each.   

The top 34 teams at the New England Championship will qualify to participate in the FIRST World Competition April 26-29 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO.

Event Agenda:

Thursday, April 6

• Pits open at 8 a.m.
• Practice matches from 9:30 a.m. to noon
• Qualification matches from 1-7 p.m.
• Pits close at 8 p.m.

Friday, April 7

• Pits open at 8 a.m.
• Opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.
• Qualification matches from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5:45 p.m.
• Awards ceremony at 5:45 p.m.
• Pits close 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 8

• Pits open at 8 a.m.
• Opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.
• Qualification matches from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Playoff matches from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
• Awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
• Pits close 6:30 p.m.

The presenting sponsor for the NE FIRST 2017 season is United Technologies. Regional sponsors are BAE Systems, Analog Devices, Google.org, WPI, AT&T, IDEXX, Bangor Savings Bank, and Texas Instruments. District event sponsors are Fidelity Investments and PTC.

The six states of New England (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire) are now united as one district to support events for high school level FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams. NE FIRST provides a cost-effective way for teams across the district to play more, with two qualifying events for one registration fee; allowing teams to play closer to home; to improve teams’ ability to fundraise and do outreach in their communities; and to reward and advance teams based on their performance on and off the field.

A 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, ingenuityNE™, supports NE FIRST events across the six New England states.

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization designs programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.