George Mason University was host for the first time to the U.S. FIRST Robotics Greater D.C. Regional, March 27-29 at the Patriot Center. More than 1,200 high school students, mostly from the National Capital region, competed to earn their teams a berth to nationals next month in St. Louis. (FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.")
Competitors from 10 states also got a firsthand look at George Mason, whose Volgenau School of Engineering ranks sixth nationally in return on investment for engineering majors. Volgenau Dean Ken Ball welcomed the high school students to Mason, and and many Volgenau students volunteered to help out at the event, which attracted thousands of participants, family members, volunteers, corporate sponsors and other guests.