NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational opportunities, PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC) today announced its continued support of FIRST ® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the FIRST ® Tech Challenge (FTC®). As a continued Strategic Partner of FIRST, PTC will sponsor 60 FTC teams expected to participate in this year’s competition.
As the exclusive CAD & Collaboration Sponsor of the FIRST Tech Challenge, PTC provides its PTC Creo® product design software, PTC Mathcad® engineering calculations software and PTC Windchill® collaboration software free to all participating FTC teams.
An estimated 30,000 students on 3,000 teams around the world will participate in the 2013-2014 FTC game, called “FTC® BLOCK PARTY!SM”. During the two-minute 30 second game, teams will be challenged to raise their team alliance flag up a flagpole, raise their robots off the ground using a platform pull-up bar, and end the match with a balanced pendulum to earn extra points. The object of the game is to score more points than an opponent by placing plastic blocks into pendulum goals. Throughout the FTC BLOCK PARTY! season, these young people will employ the same disciplines and complex problem-solving skills that will someday enable them to solve society’s greatest challenges.
“When students participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge, they are encouraged to think like engineers and scientists,” said Don Bossi, President of FIRST. “Our FTC students use PTC’s product design software to design their robots. This gives them an excellent opportunity to develop the problem-solving and engineering skills they will use in their careers.”
“The FIRST Tech Challenge is some of the hardest fun high school students will have as they learn how to work as a team to design, build and program robots to compete head to head against other teams using actual product design processes,” said John Stuart, senior vice president, global academic program. “PTC is a proud, strong supporter of FIRST because we consider FIRST to be one of the best investments we can make in educating those that are the future of our industry.”
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About FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $16 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
About PTC
PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC) enables manufacturers to achieve sustained product and service advantage. The company's technology solutions transform the way products are created and serviced across the entire product lifecycle - from conception and design to sourcing and service. Founded in 1985, PTC employs over 6,000 professionals serving more than 27,000 businesses in rapidly-evolving, globally distributed manufacturing industries worldwide. Get more information at www.ptc.com.
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PTC, Creo, Windchill, Mathcad, Product and Service Advantage and the PTC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
FIRST®, the FIRST® logo, FIRST®, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FTC® are registered trademarks, and FTC BLOCK PARTY!SM is a service mark of the United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®).
©2013 FIRST. All rights reserved.
