University of Detroit Mercy and Ford Motor Company sponsor local FIRST VEX teams in competition in Atlanta

On April 12-13, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), held its FIRST VEX Challenge World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 90 different teams, representing from four different countries competed in the two-day event. For the past six years, University of Detroit Mercy and Ford Motor company have sponsored the STEPS in High School (SiHS) program, bringing robotics and engineering to 10 high schools in Detroit, Dearborn, and Inkster, enabling students to take part in the FIRST VEX Challenge.

FIRST is a non-profit organization focused on motivating high school students in pursuing opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math while building life skills.

This year, JAWS, the Detroit's team from Western International and Murray Wright High School, took second place in the competition along with their alliance partners from Plano, Texas and Markham, Ontario, Canada. The Tenacious Technicians from Detroit's Cass Technical High School won the Connect Award, which is given to the team who was able to reach beyond their team and connect with engineers, their school, or their community.

# # #

Contact

The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.

For the 11th consecutive year, UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" – 2012 edition.

Publish date: May 03, 2007