Press Release

Commerce Secretary Praises Future Scientists and Engineers during Visit to Robotics Competition

Event Highlights Importance of Math and Science Education in Maintaining a Competitive and Innovative American Workforce

ANNAPOLIS—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today saw firsthand how innovative education programs are preparing America’s students for the jobs of the future during a visit to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Chesapeake Regional at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The initial leg of an international robotics competition for high school students, the FIRST Chesapeake Regional features 58 teams from eight states, the District of Columbia and the United Kingdom.

FIRST, founded in 1989 by Segway inventor Dean Kamen, is an annual challenge in which young people are paired with science and engineering professionals to design and build a robot in six weeks that will solve a designated engineering problem or perform an assigned task. This year’s challenge required students to design and construct a robot that can stack inflated tubes on pegs in a “Tic-Tac-Toe”-like competition against other schools.

“One of the keys to keeping America competitive and creating jobs in the world economy is ensuring that young people enter into the critical fields of science and engineering,” Gutierrez said. “Programs like FIRST are doing more than just teaching students about technology; they are contributing to the future innovativeness and prosperity of our nation.”

During his visit, Gutierrez was accompanied by Bruce Linton, national vice president of development for FIRST; William Jeffrey, director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); and Lauren Miller, a senior at Rockville, Md.’s Magruder High School and leader of the school’s FIRST team.

In January, Gutierrez visited Magruder students and their four mentors from NIST and watched students put a ball-handling robot from the 2006 FIRST competition through its paces. He also heard how the robotics team was tackling the design and construction challenges faced in getting the tube-stacking robot ready for the regional competition. He urged the students to work hard to develop the skills that will help America keep its competitive and innovative edge--a message he reiterated to all the FIRST competitors during his remarks today.

Gutierrez also recognized the valuable contribution of the adult volunteers who serve as FIRST mentors and provide technical support, guidance and encouragement to the robotics teams throughout the six-week design-to-construction period and during competitions.

Secretary Gutierrez concluded his visit to the FIRST Chesapeake Regional by pledging the Commerce Department’s continued support for educational programs such as FIRST that foster student interest in science, math and technology, as well as for the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI), which includes a strong focus on science and mathematics education and seeks increased support for critical research and development efforts at NIST and two other federal agencies.