Excited About Robotics: Rose-Hulman's Crossroads Regional FIRST Robotics competition helps inspire young people to be science and technology leaders through innovation mentor-based programs.

It took only two days for teams from nine states to fill the list of participating teams for the 2014 Crossroads Regional FIRST Robotics competition at Rose-Hulman.

Known as the "Ultimate Sport for the Mind," FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) brings together teams, sponsors, colleges, and technical professionals with high school students to develop their solution to a prescribed engineering challenge in a competitive game environment. Robots are built in six weeks from a common kit of parts provided by FIRST, and typically weigh up to 150 pounds.

"It's not just about robots," says inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, who founded FIRST to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders through innovation mentor-based programs. "It's about building self-confidence, respect, and important relationships with people who invent new technologies to make a better future," he said.

Teams will learn the 2014 competition game on January 4 and begin building their robotics to accomplish the assigned tasks.

The first 35 teams registering for the Crossroads Regional on March 6-8, 2014, at Rose-Hulman's Sports and Recreation Center are (separated by states):

• Indiana
• • Anderson - Madison County high schools
  • Avon - Avon High School
  • Bloomington - Bloomington South High School
  • Columbus - Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation
  • Crown Point - Crown Point High School
  • Indianapolis - Perry Meridian High School, Firestone Career Center, Bernard K. McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology, Arsenal Technical High School and Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis
  • Jasper - Jasper High School
  • Kokomo - Northwestern High School
  • Munster - Munster High School
  • Petersburg - Pike Central High School
  • Shelbyville - Shelby County high schools
  • West Lafayette - West Lafayette High School
• Alabama
• • Morgan County high schools, Somerville
• Illinois
• • Oswego high schools, Oswego
• Kansas
• • Paola High School, Paola
• Maryland
• • Liberty High School, Elderburg
• Ohio
• • Centerburg High School, Centerburg; Butler Technology & Career Development Schools/Colerain High School/Northwest High School, Cincinnati; St. Charles Preparatory School, Columbus; Dublin City Schools, Dublin; Eaton High School, Eaton; Grandview Heights High School, Grandview Heights; Granville Studio of Visual Arts & Granville High School, Granville; Harrison High School, Harrison; Lakota East High School, Liberty Township; EHOVE Career Center, Milan; Reynoldsburg eSTEM Academy, Reynoldsburg; and Warren G. Harding High School, Warren
• Pennsylvania
• • Erie School District, Erie
• Tennessee
• • Franklin High School, Franklin
• Wisconsin
• • Hamilton High School, Sussex

Registration for first-year teams will start in November. Only 10 rookie team spots remain to completely fill the 45-team Crossroads Regional competition roster.

"Rose-Hulman has become a true partner in my mission to help young people become scientists and engineers," Kamen stated while visiting the 2013 Crossroads Regional. He was awarded an honorary degree of engineering from Rose-Hulman in 2012.

Top teams from the Crossroads Regional will advance to the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship on April 23-26, 2014, in St. Louis.

FIRST is a volunteer-driven organization and the Crossroads Regional is seeking volunteers to help host the 2014 event. Find out how to get involved at www.rose-hulman.edu/first.