Spring Arbor University to Host FIRST Robotics Competition This Weekend

Concord’s “Full Metal Jacket” team members deliver their robot to the competition arena at last year’s event. JTV file photo.

(March 2, 2023 6:28 PM ET) This weekend, high school students will be flocking to Spring Arbor University’s McDonald Athletic Center for the FIRST in Michigan Robotics Competition. On March 3 and 4, teams will go head-to-head with the commercial products they designed, machined, programmed, and marketed to win. The competition takes place from 8 am-8 pm on Friday and 8 am-6:30 pm on Saturday. 

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics allows students to discover their passions in various STEM fields. In preparation, they work alongside industry mentors to build and program their robots to perfection. Through this event, students get on-the-job experience and skills that are not typical of a traditional classroom experience. This is the third consecutive year that Spring Arbor University is hosting the event.

“We’re honored to partner with FIRST Robotics and Consumers Energy again in hosting this event. It’s something we look forward to each year,” said Ron DeLap, Dean of the School of Engineering at SAU. “Being able to see what these students have accomplished, and the creativity they have put into their projects, is a highlight for all of us at SAU.”

Consumers Energy is the key sponsor for the competition again this year, having been the sponsor for the previous two competitions held at SAU. “Consumers Energy is proud to support Michigan’s STEM and robotics students,” said Tonya Berry, Consumers Energy’s Senior Vice President of Transformation and Engineering. “Spring Arbor University is going to be filled with STEM talent this weekend, and these bright minds will be powering the future for our state by shaping our clean energy transition! We can’t wait to cheer on our FIRST teams!”

For more information about the competition, including a daily schedule and all participating teams, visitfirstinmichigan.us/FRC/jackson.