Area students are excited about the 25^th annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Long Island Regional FIRST^® Robotics Competition, which will be held in a double-elimination style, with tournaments March 22 to 23 at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Presented by FIRST Long Island, Zebra Technologies and Optimum, this regional features 49 teams from across Long Island, New York City, Canada, Chinese Taipei and France. These students, aged 14 to 18, utilize robots to compete in alliance-style tournament rounds under this year’s challenge, dubbed CRESCENDO^SM Presented by Haas. Long Island residents are encouraged to attend to support these local high school students.

The FIRST Long Island Regionals feature teams of high school-aged students competing in a cooperative tournament-style robotics competition. Guided by their mentors, students rely on their skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) to compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play and sportsmanship. This high-energy event further emphasizes the importance of high-impact partnerships between students, universities, businesses and communities.

In CRESCENDO^SM Presented by Haas, two competing alliances are invited to score notes, amplify their speaker, harmonize onstage and take the spotlight before time runs out. Alliances earn additional rewards for meeting specific scoring thresholds and for cooperating with their opponents.

This year marks the 25^th season of the FIRST Robotics Competition supported by FIRST Long Island’s late Founder Fred Breithut, using his vision for the students of Long Island and the innovative program developed through FIRST. Mr. Breithut, a former educator, founded FIRST Long Island in 1984 to address the gap between the skills needed by Long Island’s business community and the relevant preparation provided by local school districts. In the first 15 years of its operation, FIRST Long Island formed over 100 successful partnerships between high schools and local businesses.

The presenting co-sponsors of this year’s competition are Zebra Technologies and Optimum, both long-term supporters of FIRST and FIRST Long Island. Zebra Technologies provides industry-tailored, end-to-end technological solutions for retail/ecommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare and other industries. Optimum is the local provider of Internet, mobile, phone and TV services.

The event is free to the public. Those in attendance are encouraged to cheer on their home teams and  visit the teams’ pit areas to see firsthand how these students are able to program, repair and operate their robots. Visitors can also meet with FIRST Long Island representatives, who can explain to them the different tournaments the organization presents and how one can form a team.

“The FIRST Long Island Regional is an amazing way for students to showcase their talents,” says Larry Toonkel, Regional Director, FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRSTLong Island. “We are very excited to be celebrating 25 years of FIRST and hosting teams from Long Island, New York City and around the world at this competition that puts the arts back into STEM to create a STEAM event.”

“We are certain that this event will provide a great opportunity for teams to live the FIRST experience and have a chance to advance to the Championships,” adds Bertram Dittmar, Executive Director, FIRST Long Island. “To accomplish these goals, we’ll need the continued support of our valued schools, families, volunteers and donors.”

FIRST Long Island, along with Zebra Technologies and Optimum, are the title sponsors of the FIRST Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. Captain of Innovation-level sponsors include Canon, Cradle of Aviation Museum, Farmingdale State College, FESTO, Investors Bank, Northrop Grumman, PMMI, PSEG Long Island, Schenck USA, School Construction Consultants, Inc., SCOPE Educational Services, Stony Brook University, TTM Technologies, the U.S. Army and the United States Navy. Friends of the Future-level sponsors include accessLinx, Inc., Brookhaven Science Associates, Inc. (BNL), the Dittmar Family, the Engineers Joint Committee of Long Island (EJCLI), Mary Ellen Freeley, Idress Hamid, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Yacov Shamash and the Stern Family.

The list of teams participating in the 2024 FIRST Long Island Regional FIRSTRobotics is as follows:

*Denotes a rookie team.