FOR RELEASE: March 31, 2003                                                                                      Contact: Lindsey Williams

                                                                                                                                                Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems

                                                                                                                                                716.438.4605

This latest accomplishment comes on the heels of finishing the Buckeye Regional Competition in Cleveland, Ohio as a finalist.

FIRST, which stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology", seeks to energize and involve students in science and technology. Whether or not students become scientist or engineers, team members learn the importance of teamwork, goal setting, time management and goal achievement strategies. According to FIRST founder Dean Kamen, "the FIRST Robotics competition is the NCAA of smarts".

The "game" for the 2003 season requires robots to collect and stack plastic storage containers on their side of the 24-foot wide 54-foot long playing field. In the center of the field is a ramp with 29 containers located across the top of the center platform in the shape of a pyramid. Student players have 10 seconds to position containers, followed by 15 seconds of the robot operating autonomously (without driver control). For the remainder of the match, student drivers operate the robot, via remote control, in an effort to maximize points.

Approximately 20 students and 15 adults comprised the Delphi Thermal Team, the Circuit Stompers. "Seeing our team’s excitement with winning this regional competition is one of the greatest accomplishments in the team’s four year history", according to Deborah Ayers, Director of Public Affairs for Delphi. "Winning the ‘Leadership in Control’ award automatically qualified the team to travel to the National competition in Houston, however winning the overall regional event sealed the deal!" added Ayers.

The team plans to travel to Reliant Park in Houston, Texas for the National Competition April 9-12, 2003.

Delphi E.L.I.T.E. (Team # 48), sponsored by Warren G. Harding High School and Delphi Packard in Warren, Ohio were semi-finalists at the Canadian Regional and were awarded the GM Industrial Design Award which celebrates from and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge.

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