High school teams from across northwest Georgia converged on the Dalton Convention Center on Friday, March 11, to participate in the FIRST Robotics Peachtree District Qualifier.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and other educational and business leaders across the region sponsored the event. Competitors were encouraged to develop skills today that will help them to create a better tomorrow; the theme of the 2022 competition was the future of transportation.
“It’s great for students to be able to come together once again at this exciting event! Many of the skills and abilities they showcase during this competition align with the programs offered at Georgia Northwestern Technical College,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. “GNTC is honored to sponsor events like this that advance technology and expose students to multiple high-demand career fields.”
From the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy (NWGCCA) Career Blazer Robotics - Fighting Mongooses to the Dalton High School Catabots and North Murray High School Mountaineers, competitors from dozens of Georgia high schools competed for top honors at the regional competition.
This is the first competition in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FIRST Robotics program began in 1992 in New Hampshire with 28 teams in a single high school gymnasium. Today, FIRST has grown to thousands of students throughout the United States each year. The program encourages students who may not be predisposed to study advanced STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to compete. Participants improve their maturity, self-confidence, teamwork skills and understanding of professionalism.
FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” For more information on taking part as a school, sponsor, or volunteer in Georgia, visit GeorgiaFIRST Robotics at www.gafirst.org.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of Northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 11,134 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,528 students and an additional enrollment of 2,606 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.
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