SimIS employees judged the FTC Robotics competition held at Norfolk State University and organized by VirginiaFirst: VirginiaFIRST supports the mission of FIRST: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

The First Tech Challenge is the Eastern Virginia Qualifier and was held on Saturday, January 25th, 2014 at Norfolk State University. With teams up to 10 students, the groups competed with their thoughtfully designed robotic models. The aspect of bringing together groups to utilize teamwork and outreach, the students had a chance to use problem-solving techniques, place in other competitions, and a chance to qualify for nearly $19 million in college scholarships.

SimIS had the opportunity to support this competition by becoming a selected sponsor of the event and volunteer. SimIS selected judges from their department to offer advice, coaching, and skills that may assist with developing a strong lead in using problem-solving techniques and organizational skills. Dr. Andreas Tolk, Dr. Yiannis Papelis, and Elizabeth Johnson attended as judges on the behalf of SimIS.