PASADENA, Calif. (April 2, 2019)—On Friday, April 12, approximately 200 Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) middle school robotics students will take over the Rose Bowl Stadium’s end-zone to compete for this year’s prize in the deep-sea exploration themed robotics competition, the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Robo Rally Driven by Honda. The 9th annual competition will showcase the student teams’ robotic skills while combining the practical application of science and technology with the fun, intense energy of a championship-style sporting event.
[Find out more about the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Robo Rally 2019 Driven by Honda here]Students will be challenged to program their robots to explore newly discovered underwater ruins that are too deep and dangerous for human divers. The competition will take place on Friday, April 12 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM PDT. To complete the course challenge, robots will be required to autonomously scan key structures as an exploratory probe then retrieve valuable artifacts for later analysis.
“The Pasadena Educational Foundation has been building dynamic community partnerships to support our PUSD schools for almost 50 years,” said PEF Executive Director Patrick Conyers. “We are thrilled to have Honda and the Rose Bowl help us drive innovation, creativity, and imagination in our schools.”
Support for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education is a key component of American Honda’s Corporate Social Responsibility direction as it looks to inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.
“Now more than ever, students need a background in STEM to help them succeed in school and prepare for future careers,” said Steve Morikawa, vice president, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility, American Honda. “Robo Rally is more than just a STEM competition, it’s an opportunity for students to learn other valuable skills, such as teamwork and problem-solving, that help them reach their full potential.”
The 9th Annual Robo Rally Competition is the culmination of the hard work the students have done throughout the year in their respective robotics classes. This event is free and open to the community; it is designed to be exciting and challenging for students but also fun and entertaining for spectators.
As a National Historic Landmark and a California Civil Engineering Landmark, the Rose Bowl will provide a platform to teach Robo Rally students the values of teamwork and heroics that have inspired millions since the stadium first opened its gates in 1922.
“This incredible venue is rooted in a history of teamwork, leadership, risk taking and so much more,” said Chief Development Officer Dedan Brozino. “It is an absolute honor to partner with Honda, the Pasadena Educational Foundation, PUSD and others to bring the Robo Rally and the students to the venue as an important tool promoting education.”
The Robotics classes in PUSD middle schools is a program of the Pasadena Educational Foundation with support from generous community members including Honda, the Rose Bowl Stadium & Legacy Foundation, McCreight Foundation, Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the College Football Playoff Foundation.
WHAT: Pasadena Educational Foundation
Robo Rally 2019
Driven by Honda
WHEN: Friday, April 12, 2019
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
*Final race and awards ceremony will be at approximately 11:15 AM
WHERE: Rose Bowl Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103
For more information, please visit us here: http://www.pased.org/roborally
