Virginia's Technology Councils endorse FIRST LEGO League
The Virginia Technology Alliance, which consists of 10 regional Technology Councils that serve the Commonwealth of Virginia, has officially endorsed FIRST Lego League as a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) workforce initiative.
A major component of the Virginia Technology Alliance's work program is to advance educational programs that increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
"The future success of business and industry in the Commonwealth will rely on a workforce that is technically competent and ready to meet even greater demands," states Jonathan Whitt, Chairman of the Alliance's S.T.E.M. Workforce Committee. "It is vital that we cultivate an environment in Virginia that champions the success of a student's interest and participation in S.T.E.M.-related programs such as FIRST LEGO League."
The Virginia Technology Alliance will work in three key areas to support the VA-DC chapter of FIRST LEGO League: Promotion and Advocacy, Financial Support, and Volunteerism and Coordination at FIRST events.
About the Virginia Technology Alliance:
The misson of the Virginia Technology Alliance is to champion the success of Virginia's technology sector, coordinate and enhance the efforts of the regional technology councils in promoting Virginia's technology economy, and advocate for issues important to the growth and development of innovative technologies and technology-based organizaions in the Commonwealth. http://www.thevta.org/
About FIRST:
Inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, initiating formal robotics competitions in 1992. The Manchester, N.H.-based non-profit, designs accessible, innovative programs that build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue S.T.E.M. careers. Through corporate sponsorships and volunteers from companies like Johnson and Johnson and Motorola, FIRST organizes several competitions inspiring K-12 youth who choose S.T.E.M. education and career exploration: FIRST Robotics Competions (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for high-school students, the FIRST Lego® League (FLL) for children ages 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO® League (JFLL) for 6 to 9 year-olds. http://www.usfirst.org/
About VA-DC FLL: Virginia
DC FLL was formed in 2006 when James Madison University became the regional partner for FIRST LEGO League. VA-DC FLL has grown to more than 350 teams across the Commonwealth and the District of Columbia. With the support of sponsors like James Madison University, Dominoion, Rockwell-Collins, Luna Innovations, General Dynamics and others, VA-DC FLL hosts 16 regional tournaments geographically dispersed througout the region. Top teams advance to the qualifying championship at JMU each December. http://www.vadcfll.org/
For further information, please contact:
Jonathan Whitt, CEcD
Executive Director
Virginia's Region 2000 Technology Council
Phone 434-847-1447
Email: jwhite@region2000.org