DAVENPORT, IOWA (December 9, 2022) — The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) will hold a FIRST LEGO League robotics qualifying event on Saturday, December 10, at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport, Iowa. Approximately 150 students ages nine to fourteen from 31 teams built robots and prepared presentations to compete for awards and a chance to advance to next level competitions.
FIRST LEGO League robotics programs inspire the next generation of change-makers. Students not only develop technical and team-building skills, but also leadership and problem-solving skills, and foster self-confidence. By covering this event, the media can help support participation of this positive, youth-centered program by:
- Making the public aware and encouraging them to attend; and
- Raising the awareness of the FIRST program in our community, with the goal increasing in the interest and participation by students and volunteers.
A past QCESC President and FLL coach and current Iowa State Senator will be an emcee at the event on Saturday afternoon. The ISU Assistant Director for Engineering Outreach, Yamille Perez, is also scheduled to attend with ISU students. Members of the press are encouraged to collect video footage, photographs, and interviews throughout the day. For the complete schedule, visit: qcesc.org/quad-cities-first-volunteers.
FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) organization with more than 650,000 students internationally and a vibrant presence in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. This year’s challenge, “SUPERPOWERED,” asks students to focus on energy. They will explore the ways in which energy is essential to our lives and consider where energy comes from, how it’s generated, how it’s distributed, and how much is being used.
About Quad City Engineering and Science Council: The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization representing approximately 23 technical societies in the Quad City area with approximately 3,000 associated members. Its mission is to promote and support engineering, science, and technical professionals and associated societies in Quad City Region, and to encourage and support students to study in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related fields. Learn more at qcesc.org. We welcome your financial support as well as your volunteerism. Donations can be made at qcesc.org/supportvolunteer/#donate.
About FIRST®: FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages four to eighteen (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured after-school programs. Boosted by a global support-system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fund raise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career-discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
About the Putnam Museum and Science Center: The Putnam Museum brings to life a sense of place, time, and purpose to ignite human potential and inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people. For more than 150 years, guests have experienced the Putnam’s permanent exhibits ranging from Unearthing Ancient Egypt to our family-favorite science galleries, as well as an array of programs and internationally-recognized traveling exhibits. The Putnam is dedicated to helping guests discover and explore in a friendly and engaging atmosphere, including wheelchair access throughout the museum and theater, sensory-friendly maps and backpacks, and wheelchairs available to borrow upon request. For more information about events, exhibits, and accessibility visit putnam.org.
