Delphi-Sponsored Teams Excel in 'FIRST' National Robotics Competition

Delphi-Sponsored Teams Excel in 'FIRST' National Robotics Competition
Delphi Sponsors 10 Teams; Two Team Members Win $20,000 Scholarships

While most kids travel to Walt Disney World in search of Mickey Mouse and Goofy, more than 10,000 students converged on Disney's Epcot® Center April 5-7 with other famous names in mind: Archimedes, Curie, Galileo and Newton. The 2001 FIRST National Robotics Competition held in Orlando, Fla., over the weekend grouped student teams in four divisions, named for the famous scientists. Delphi Automotive Systems sponsored 10 high school teams at this year's competition.

FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a non-profit organization that pairs businesses and universities with schools to inspire students to pursue engineering, science and technology professions. The FIRST annual robotics competition immerses high school students in the exciting world of engineering by challenging them to design and build robots that must complete specified tasks while partnered with other teams.

A FIRST foundation sponsor, Delphi not only sponsored 10 teams, but also contributed to scholarships with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue (Ind.) University. In addition, Donald L. Runkle, executive vice president, Delphi Automotive Systems and president of Delphi's Dynamics & Propulsion Sector, presented the "Delphi Driving Tomorrow's Technology(TM) Award" to the team with the most elegant and advantageous machine feature at this year's national competition.

"Delphi has been involved with the FIRST Robotics Competition since its inception 10 years ago, and we are very proud to support the program each year," said J.T. Battenberg III, Delphi's chairman, CEO and president, and a FIRST board member. "This program is a way for Delphi to help young people learn about science and technology in a fun, hands-on learning environment, while also investing in our future as a technology leader."

While all of the Delphi-sponsored teams performed well over the weekend, there were a number of highlights from the competition. A participant for all 10 years of the FIRST Robotics program, The TechnoKats, sponsored by Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, placed first in the Galileo Division. Chief Delphi of Pontiac (Mich.) Central High School, which is sponsored by Delphi Interior Systems, was honored as a Chairman's Award Finalist for the second year in a row. The team received the Chairman's award in 1997. In addition, Marcus Bady, a senior at Buena Vista High School in Saginaw, Mich., and Phil Lundberg, a senior at Kokomo (Ind.) High School, each received one of six $20,000 college scholarships given by Kettering University and FIRST.

The competition's more than 330 teams were randomly divided into the four divisions, and teams competed within their divisions to advance to the finalist rounds. The eight highest ranked teams in each division automatically advanced to the finals. Each division's finalist teams were able to choose three additional teams, and one back-up team, to join them in the finals. Winning teams from the finals advanced to the championship.

Delphi teams ranked well in the competition's four divisions. Following are the team rankings:

    Archimedes Division:

    *  Team: Delphi ELITE, Warren (Ohio) G. Harding High School
       Sponsored by:  Delphi Packard Electric Systems
       Ranking:  11 of 84
       Average Match Points:  264.14

    *  Team: The Delphi Knights, Buena Vista High School, Saginaw, Mich.
       Sponsored by: Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems and Dow Chemical
       Ranking:  13 of 84
       Average Match Points:  254.14
       Scholarship Winner: Marcus Bady, senior, $20,000
                           from Kettering University and FIRST

    *  Team: Delphi SCC United, Saginaw Career Complex
       Sponsored by: Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems
       Ranking:  27 of 84
       Average Match Points:  224.14

    Curie Division:

    *  Team: Chief Delphi, Pontiac (Mich.) Central High School
       Sponsored by: Delphi Interior Systems
       Ranking: Seeded 6 of 84; Finalist
       Average Match Points:  292.57
       Award: Chairman's Award Finalist

    *  Team: The Knight Riders, Flint (Mich.) Southwestern Academy
       Sponsored by: Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems
       Ranking:  63 of 84
       Average Match Points:  129.71

    Galileo Division:

    *  Team: The TechnoKats, Kokomo (Ind.) High School
       Sponsored by: Delphi Delco Electronic Systems
       Ranking:  1 of 83; Finalist
       Average Match Points:  370.43
       Scholarship Winner: Phil Lundberg, senior, $20,000 from Kettering
                           University and FIRST

    *  Team: The Manhattan Project II, Troy (Mich.) High School
       Sponsored by: General Motors Controls/Robotics and Welding, and Delphi
                     Automotive Systems
       Ranking:  71 of 83
       Average Match Points:  129

    Newton Division:

    *  Team:  The RoboDawgs, Granville (Mich.) High School
       Sponsored by: Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems Grand Rapids Operations
                     and X-Rite Corporation
       Ranking:  6 of 84; Finalist
       Average Match Points:  277

    *  Team:  Kettering University, Flint (Mich.) School District,
              Powers High School
       Sponsored by: Kettering University, Flint (Mich.) School District and
                     Delphi Automotive Systems
       Ranking:  31 of 84
       Average Match Points: 194.71

    *  Team: The Circuit Stompers, Newfane (New York) High School
       Sponsored by: Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems
       Ranking:  71 of 84
       Average Match Points:  126

For more information on FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org . For more information about Delphi Automotive Systems, visit Delphi's Virtual Press Room at www.delphiauto.com/vpr.

-- Posted April 10, 2001

Source: Delphi Automotive Systems