FIRST Robotics team "the Army Ants" receive $5,000 NASA Grant

Columbia's FIRST Robotics Team--the Army Ants--has received a $5,000 grant from the NASA Robotics Alliance Project. The grant will be used to compete in the St. Louis Regional Robotics competition March 13-15, 2014. This is the fourth year that CPS Columbia Area Career Center will send the Army Ants Team #3792 to competition. The team brings students and mentors together to master skills and concepts in science, engineering, and technology through robotics. Students gain valuable career and life skills, as well as provide outreach presentations in Boone County. Team members work alongside professional engineers and technicians to design and build a 100-plus pound robot to compete regionally, nationally, and internationally. FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology." The 2014 season kickoff is January 4 when the challenge is revealed and the six-week build and design season begins.