Who: School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc., sponsor of the Long Island Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Students from more than 40 participating teams What: School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. kicks off the 2012 season for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC) as students from across Long Island connect via a NASA satellite feed from FIRST's headquarters in New Hampshire to learn the rules of the game for this year's competition. After the name of the competition and the rules are released, they will receive their kits of parts and begin strategizing the design and construction of their 130-pound robots. When: Saturday, January 7, 2012 9:00 a.m. - Registration opens; refreshments served until 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - Presentation and FIRST broadcast noon - Distribution of kits of parts Where: Stony Brook University, Jacob Javits Center, Room 100 Stony Brook, NY Directions: Take the LIE to Exit 62 (Nicolls Road/CR 97) north toward Stony Brook. Take Nicolls Road for nine miles. There are three entrances to the university's west campus on your left. Parking is available in the faculty/staff parking lot, and in the parking garage. Photo Ops: Students receiving instructions via satellite feed. Students receiving their kits of parts. Students and team leaders showing the contents of their kits of parts. ### School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) was founded in 1984 by Fred Breithut with the goal of developing partnerships between local high schools and businesses that would provide students with practical experience and curriculum development, while helping the business community develop its future workforce. Over 100 partnerships have been formed. In 1999, SBPLI brought the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics program to Long Island, where 14 high school teams participated. Since then, the FIRST robotics program has grown to 50 teams, with over 2,000 students participating in FIRST Robotics and LEGO League programs on Long Island each year. The 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition will be held at Hofstra University on March 29-31, 2012.