Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Teams from 47 New York area high schools will vie for top honors in the annual FIRST Robotics Competition, SBPLI Long Island Regional on March 27-28 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University.

The Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)   competition, sponsored for the 10th consecutive year by the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc., will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. The theme for this year’s competition is “Lunacy” in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing.

The Long Island regional event is co-sponsored by Hofstra University, New York State Sen. Owen Johnson, Festo, J.P. Morgan Chase, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, DeVry University, Stony Brook University, Farmingdale State College and Ziehm Medical.

"We think this is one of the most exciting programs of its kind," said SBPLI President Fred Breithut, whose group for 25 years has helped train the Long Island workforce to meet the demand for local jobs. "Many of the kids who take part in the competition graduate from college and come back for jobs on the Island with the same people who sponsor the competition. It‘s a complete circle."  Since 1999, Long Island high school students who take part in the program have been awarded $2 million in college scholarships, Breithut said.

In partnership with FIRST, the Engineering Department of Hofstra University has established a merit-based scholarship program to benefit current high school seniors who have been actively
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involved on a competing FIRST team and who would like to attend Hofstra University. These scholarships are valued at $1,500 per year, for four years, with a total value of $6,000.

All teams that take part in the regional competition at Hofstra were required to design and build 130-pound robots to perform a specific task from a given set of materials. They will compete for honors and recognition based on design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships among schools, businesses and communities. The winners of the Long Island Regional will advance to the national championship April 16-18 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

FIRST's mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership FIRST was founded by inventor Dean Kamen with a goal to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and communities. Now in its 20th year, FIRST sponsors competitions involving more than 150,000 students.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 145 undergraduate and 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services;  and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.