Freelin-Wade Plastic Tubing Heads to FIRST Robotics Championship in Atlanta, April 15-17, 2010
Plastic tubing manufacturer Freelin-Wade (www.freelin-wade.com), announced today that for a fifth consecutive year, the company has joined forces with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Freelin-Wade is a Silver Supplier of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC®).
More than 1,800 high school teams from around the world received their Kit of Parts from FIRST in January. Included in the kit was a pack of tubing from Freelin-Wade. This year, Freelin-Wade donated 50 feet of transparent neon yellow Fre-Thane® 95A polyurethane tubing. In addition, the company included a 50% off discount coupon for the teams to place custom orders. The company also included information for a website contest for the teams. Stretched out, the tubing donation amounted to 17 total miles of tubing.
"Freelin-Wade is a generous supporter of the FIRST Robotics Competition," said FIRST president, Paul R. Gudonis. "As a Silver Supplier, Freelin-Wade greatly helps us to achieve our vision: 'to create a world where science and technology are celebrated... where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders."
By providing components for the competition, FIRST suppliers are putting the latest technology in the hands of students, giving them the opportunity to apply the same tools used by professional scientists and engineers and ultimately helping them learn real-world skills they will carry into the workplace.
This is the fourth year that Freelin-Wade will be in Atlanta for the championship event. National Sales Manager Scott Schwarm said, "We go every year. We like to show our support for these amazing kids; plus it's always a lot of fun." Schwarm went on to say, "The energy that surrounds this event, and these bright young minds that have worked so hard to get to Atlanta, is inspiring. It is exactly the kind of thing that we at Freelin-Wade can identify with."
FIRST is the brainchild of inventor Dean Kamen. The organization inspires young people's interest and participation in science and technology. This year, nearly 1,700 teams of high school students from around the world will build robots for the competition. Local competitions lead to regional ones. The competition culminates with the championships in the Atlanta Georgia Dome, April 15-17, 2010.
Since 1992, FIRST has brought the excitement of a sporting event to science and technology via robotics competitions. More than 42,000 students from 10 countries designed and built robots to compete in regional events with winners advancing to the FIRST Championships in Atlanta. Participating students are eligible to apply for more than $12 million in scholarships offered by leading universities, colleges, and companies.
About Freelin-Wade
Founded in 1980, Freelin-Wade is North America's largest independent manufacturer of plastic tubing and hoses for industries as diverse as pneumatics, dental and promotions. The company employs nearly 100 people at its McMinnville, Oregon plant. Privately held Freelin-Wade is a subsidiary of Coilhose Pneumatics. Worry-free Freelin-Wade tubing is always an exact fit and sets the gold standard for on-time delivery. Freelin-Wade customers know precisely when their order will arrive.
About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world's most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
