WATERBURY, CONN. – Thirty-nine teams of students in grades 9-12 from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire will compete at the NE FIRST Waterbury District Event, a FIRST Robotics Competition qualifier, the weekend of March 11-12, 2023, at Wilby High School. 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 and limited resources, each team of high-school students is challenged to raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. This year, the challenge is CHARGED UP presented by Haas, an energy-themed game played by two alliances of three robots each. 

CHARGED UP presented by Haas is part of the 2023 FIRST ENERGIZESM presented by Qualcomm season. In CHARGED UP, teams are inspired to see the potential of energy storage in a new light as they compete to charge up their communities. Using renewable energy can transform our communities, but only if it is effectively stored and delivered to those who need it. The power of engineering can help make a meaningful difference. This year’s challenge addresses global challenges related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7—focused on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

New England FRC teams each earn ranking points at two local district events, such as the NE FIRST Waterbury District Event, with the hopes of qualifying to participate in the New England District Championship. The New England District Championship will host 90 of the best New England FRC teams, April 6–8, 2023, at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in West Springfield, Mass.

Contacts

NE FIRST Executive Director Michael Fantom, mfantom@nefirst.org, 401-215-6540

Event Chair, Lauren Jefferson, lauren.jefferson517@gmail.com, 860-785-6018

For more information, visit nefirst.org 

Event Agenda

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

• Event opens at 8 a.m.

• Opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.

• Qualification matches from
  11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–7 p.m.

• Event closes at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

• Event opens at 8 a.m.

• Opening ceremonies at 9 a.m.

• Qualification matches from
  9:30 a.m.–noon

• Playoff matches from 2-4:30 p.m.

• Awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

• Event closes at 6:30 p.m.

FIRST Robotics Competition Team List: NE FIRST Waterbury District Event

About NE FIRST 

New England FIRST supports the global mission of FIRST® in all six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NE FIRST provides accessible, innovative robotics 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. NE FIRST is supported by ingenuityNE, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity incorporated in the State of Connecticut.

Additional New England FIRST Robotics Competition Events (https://www.nefirst.org/district-events)

• Salem, NH NE FIRST Granite State District Event March 3–4, 2023, 

• Bridgewater, MA NE FIRST SE Mass. District Event March 4–5, 2023

• Waterbury, CT NE FIRST Waterbury District Event March 11–12, 2023

• North Scituate, RI NE FIRST Rhode Island District Event March 11–12, 2023

• Springfield, MA NE FIRST Western NE District Event March 17–18, 2023

• Reading, MA NE FIRST North Shore District Event March 18–19, 2023

• Revere, MA NE FIRST Greater Boston District Event March 25–26, 2023

• Durham, NH NE FIRST UNH District Event March 25–26, 2023

• Hartford, CT NE FIRST Hartford District Event April 1–2, 2023

• Worcester, MA NE FIRST WPI District Event April 1–2, 2023

• West Springfield, MA New England District Championship April 6–8, 2023

About FIRST®

FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Alumni of FIRST programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships, and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers. Learn more at firstinspires.org.

FIRST Robotics is powered primarily by volunteers. Professionals from the business community serve as mentors for high school team members. Each team is responsible for their own fundraising, and are judged on many criteria from the building of the robot to the sustainability of the team.