FLINT, Mich.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 4, 2008— Kettering University will host a "first in the country" national pilot program for FIRST Robotics when the Michigan FIRST Robotics Rookie Regional debuts on campus March 7-8 in Flint. The Rookie Regional has a specific purpose - to offer a low-cost way for new teams to begin to compete in FIRST. The event is free and open to the public in Kettering University's Recreation Center.

Teams participating are:

-- Capac High School, Capac, Mich.

-- Astronuts, Davis Aerospace Technical High School, Detroit, Mich.

-- RoboColts, Northwestern High School/STEM Academy, Detroit, Mich.

-- Tenacious Technicians, Cass Technical High School, Detroit, Mich.

-- MIGHT, Farmington Hills, Mich.

-- Fruitport High School, Fruitport, Mich.

-- EngiNerds of Grand Blanc High School, Grand Blanc, Mich.

-- Grace Center for Arts and Technology, Grand Rapids, Mich.

-- Jacktown Vectors, Jackson, Mich.

-- Sexton Science, Math and Engineering Magnet, Lansing, Mich.

-- Dow High School, Midland, Mich.

-- PowerSurge, Muskegon, Mich.

-- Excel, Niles, Mich.

-- Anderson High School, Southgate, Mich.

-- Waterford Mott High School, Waterford, Mich.

-- Power Storm, Indianapolis, Ind.

-- Chaska High School, Chaska, Minn.

-- Graco-Thomas Edison, Minneapolis, Minn.

-- Highland High School, Medina, Ohio

-- Vortex, Lansdale, Penn.

-- Crusaders, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

The FIRST Robotics Rookie Regional will also be a first-time look in Michigan of the 2008 game that will be used during the national championship rounds.

The schedule is:
Thursday, March 6
5-9 p.m. set-up, robot uncrating and pre-inspection
Friday, March 7
Pits and machine shop open, 7:30 a.m.
Inspection and open practice sessions, 8-11:30 a.m.
Opening ceremonies, 12:30 p.m.
Seeding matches, 1-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, March 8
Opening ceremonies, 8 a.m.
Seeding matches, 8:30 a.m. - noon
Final rounds, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Awards, 4 p.m.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a national effort to showcase science and engineering as fun, especially to middle school and high school students.

Read more about the "Rookie Regional" at: www.ketteringroboticscompetition.com

Located in Flint, Kettering University is the home of the country's most modern co-op program. For more on Kettering, visit: www.kettering.edu

---

Contact:

Kettering University
Pat Mroczek, 810-762-9533
Email Contact