Girl
Scouts of the USA Creates New FIRST
Participation Patch
As part of the ongoing partnership
between FIRST and the Girl Scouts
of the USA (GSUSA), the national scouting
organization recently created a new
participation patch, which will be awarded
to a Girl Scout who takes part in any
FIRST competition, tournament, or
championship event.
The colorful patch includes the FIRST
logo, as well as a symbolic representation
of technology and girl-power on and off the
FIRST playing field. The patches
are available for purchase at local or
regional Council Stores.
“Special thanks goes to the Girl Scout
members of FIRST Robotics
Competition (FRC) Team 1302 'PoJo Robotics'
and 'Rock n' Roll Robots,' a FIRST
Tech Challenge team comprised of girls from
Greater Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, and
Mt. Wilson Vista Girl Scout Councils, in
helping to conceptualize this patch,” says
Suman Sabastin, STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math) Project Manager for
Technology and Engineering at the GSUSA.
The Girl Scouts partnered with FIRST
in April 2008 to encourage more girls to
pursue careers in the areas of science,
technology, engineering, and math. In
addition, the partnership is designed to
foster opportunities for girls to explore
STEM careers by providing hands-on
experience in the designing, building, and
programming of robots while applying the
concept of Gracious Professionalism – the
FIRST motto that defines a way of
performing which encourages high-quality
work, emphasizes the value of others, and
respects individuals and the community where
fierce competition and mutual gain can be
simultaneously achieved.
"In this ever-increasing
technologically-focused global society, it
is essential for us to give our girls the
tools they need to thrive," said Norma
Barquet, Executive Vice President, Girl
Scouts of the USA.
Girl Scouts
of the USA and FIRST Partnership Introduces Girls to Robotics
New partnership engages girls in
STEM activities through competition
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE April 17,
2008
CONTACT:
Girl Scouts of the USA
Michelle Tompkins
Phone: (212) 852-5074
mtompkins@girlscouts.org
Atlanta, Ga.— Girl
Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced today a partnership with
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology) hoping to encourage more girls into STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math) careers, and gender equity in
our global society.
The partnership, announced at the
FIRST World Championship, being held April 17-19 at the Georgia
Dome in Atlanta, is designed to foster opportunities for girls
to explore STEM careers by providing hands-on experience in the
designing building, and programming of robots while applying the
concept of 'gracious professionalism' during competition.
Gracious professionalism, the ethos of FIRST in accordance with
the Girl Scout Promise and Law, is defined as a way of
performing that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the
value of others, and respects individuals and the community
where fierce competition and mutual gain can be simultaneously
achieved.
"In this ever-increasing
technologically-focused global society, it is essential for us
to give our girls the tools they need to thrive." said Norma
Barquet, Executive Vice President, Girl Scouts of the USA. "We
are thrilled to bring FIRST to Girl Scouts everywhere."
In addition to piloting a national
robotics program, GSUSA and FIRST are in the process of
establishing FIRST team mentorship programs where established
girl teams will help support rookie teams, thus increasing the
number of all-girl teams participating in robotics initiatives
through FIRST. There are close to 100 Girl Scout FIRST Lego
programs around the country to date. Two high-school level Girl
Scout teams are competing in Atlanta this weekend.
"We're very excited to partner with
the Girl Scouts of the USA to help young girls discover the
excitement and rewards of education and careers in science and
technology." said Paul Gudonis, FIRST President. "Our
partnership helps us provide many more young women with the
opportunity to experience FIRST."
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
which build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while
motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM). Through corporate
sponsorship and volunteerism from companies like Johnson and
Johnson and Motorola, FIRST organizes several competitions
inspiring K-12 youth into STEM education and career exploration:
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
for high-school students, the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for
children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League (JFLL)
for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, visit
www.usfirst.org.
About
Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent
leadership development organization for girls with 3.6 million
girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouting is the leading
authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of
courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better
place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the
United States and its territories. Girls Scouts of the USA also
serves American girls and their classmates attending American or
international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more
information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to
Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit
www.girlscouts.org.
