DURHAM, N.H. – Forty-two teams of students in grades 9-12 from around New England will participate in the FIRST Robotics district competition March 30-31, 2018, in the Whittemore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire. The event is free and open to the public.

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. With strict rules, limited resources and time limits, each team of 25 or more students 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 Power Up, a video game themed competition played by two alliances of three robots each.   

Winners of the district competition will automatically qualify for the New England championship April 11-14 in Boston.

Friday, March 30

• Pits open & practice rounds at 8 a.m.
• Opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.
• Qualification matches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.
• Pits close 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 31

• Pits open at 8 a.m.
• Opening ceremonies at 9 a.m.
• Qualification matches from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Final rounds from 2-5 p.m.
• Awards ceremony at 5 p.m.
• Pits close 7 p.m.

The presenting sponsor for the NE FIRST 2018 season is United Technologies. Regional sponsors are BAE Systems, Analog Devices, WPI, AT&T, IDEXX, Bangor Savings Bank, and Texas Instruments. District event sponsors are Fidelity Investments and the U.S. Army. 

Six states in the Northeast (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire) are now united as one region to support events for high school level FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams. NE FIRST provides a cost-effective way for teams across New England to play more, with two qualifying events for one registration fee; to lower costs by 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.