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John M. Barnes, Jr., Chair of Palmetto Partners for Science and Technology's Board of Directors, Issues Editorial

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are." That quote is attributed to J.P. Morgan, an American financier who among many accomplishments, came to the rescue of the U.S. government during a horrendous economic downturn.

Morgan's statement is relative today in South Carolina, and its meaning is embraced by the Palmetto Partners for Science and Technology and the seventh annual FIRST Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional held March 26-27, 2010, at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum.

Palmetto Partners for Science and Technology is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that sponsors the Palmetto Regional robotics event; as well as, the FIRST Lego League, FIRST Junior Lego League, and the FIRST Technical Challenge events in South Carolina. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of science and Technology), is a national not-for-profit association that is the umbrella group promoting the events beyond the state level.

Fortunately, we in South Carolina have been hosting the regional robotic competition since the first one in 2004. We realize that we cannot afford to sit still and expect our future to be any brighter. Now is the time, more than ever, to invest in our youth and teach them the skills and teamwork required by industry to ensure a technically skilled workforce.

Nearly one thousand local and regional high school students competed in an action-packed contest described as a rock concert and sporting event for the mind rolled into one. This year, the robotics competition is a game called "Breakaway" in which teams compete on a 27 by 54 foot field with bumps, attempting to earn points by putting soccer balls in goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot suspended in air and not touching the field at the end of the match.

The games, free and open to the public, lead to an international championship competition April 15 - 17 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

While on the surface, this sounds like fun and games (and, believe me, it is!), it's much more than that. It gives the students who are taking courses, such as gateways to technology, principles of engineering, introduction to design and modeling, and digital electronics the opportunity for critical thinking, problem solving and working as a team.

Our partners, the S.C. Dept. of Education, Clemson University's College of Engineering and Science, and the University of South Carolina College of Engineering, along with our corporate sponsors are proud to join the FIRST Foundation in this endeavor.

But, my hat is really off to the incredible mentors, parents and teachers supporting these students, who had six weeks to design, build, program and test their robots to meet the engineering challenge. If you really want to see creativity, the power of collaboration and deep determination, check out a Palmetto Regional FIRST Robotic Competition.

Even better, invest in South Carolina's future by contributing to the Palmetto Partners for Science and Technology, because that would say that you agree that it's time for South Carolina to decide not to stay where it is. After all, it's today's youth who are going to take us somewhere.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6226498&lang=en

Comporium
Paul Kutz, 803-326-7602, paul.kutz@comporium.com