Mouser Electronics Inc. is continuing its sponsorship of FIRST Robotics Competition, which inspires innovation and fosters well-rounded life capabilities in young people every year. During the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition season, nearly 100,000 high-school students on more than 3,900 teams from all over the world participated to learn, discover and solve engineering challenges through a series of virtual and live robotics events.
“Education has been a key facet of Mouser’s mission since our founding,” said Kevin Hess, Mouser’s senior vice president of marketing. “We are very excited to once again sponsor the FIRST Robotics Competition, which we have proudly supported for years. The organization gives students around the world a platform for innovation, a chance to learn valuable engineering skills, and an opportunity to build character and self-esteem.”
Since 2014, Mouser has been a major supporter of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a leading student-serving nonprofit advancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Mouser sponsors FIRST virtual and live competitions at the local, regional, state and international levels. Joining Mouser in the sponsorship is manufacturer partner Analog Devices, Inc.
The global authorized distributor will be a major presenting co-sponsor of the FIRST in Texas/UIL State Robotics Championships, planned for April 6–9 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Mouser also supports FIRST teams in its community, providing grants for local high school teams.
Additionally, Mouser will continue its exclusive sponsorship of the Hall of Fame at FIRST Championships, April 21–23 in Houston, along with the FIRST Robotics Competition pits, where the teams set up camp to work on their robots during the competition. The Hall of Fame honors the winning teams of the esteemed Chairman’s Award, which rewards the teams who best exemplify the goals and values of FIRST.
Each FIRST Robotics Competition team receives access to a Kit of Parts system — including motors, batteries, a control system, a PC and a mix of automation components — with limited instructions. In a set amount of time, teams transform these various parts into working robots designed to perform specific tasks.
