JUMPSTART participants operate robots in competition in a pit at St. Cloud State University.
JUMPSTART is a training event for students, mentors and parents involved in FIRST robotics. It is hosted by St. Cloud State University and organized by Central Minnesota Robotics Hub.
A robot reaches for a brick during a JUMPSTART competition.
The event is designed to give teams a jump start on robot fabrication, Pit organization and Pit safety as well as give parents a chance to learn about FIRST Robotics Competition, starting a booster club and finding team sponsors.
Forty-three teams attended and spent the day training in engineering, programming and business skills that will help them in their upcoming built and competition season. About 10 FIRST Tech Challenge teams joined in for a competition.
FIRST Robotics Competition is a competition for students in grades 9-12 to compete head-to-head on a special playing field with robots they have designed, built and programmed.
President Robbyn Wacker addressed the attendees. Undergraduate Admissions staff also assisted at the day.
High school students gather in the Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom waiting for JUMPSTART to begin. Photo courtesy of President Robbyn Wacker
