Apr 28 2015
FIRST® and Comcast NBCUniversal today announced Pittsburgh, Pa. based “Girls of Steel” (FRC Team 3504) is the recipient of the 2015 Media & Technology Innovation Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal.
Pittsburgh, Pa. based “Girls of Steel” (FIRST® Team 3504) is the recipient of the 2015 Media & Technology Innovation Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. (Photo: Business Wire)
This award recognizes a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) team that creates a robust digital media experience and marketing strategy to aid their team in fundraising and in sharing the FIRST mission of encouraging science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education with others. The all-girl team uses the highly iconized image of “Rosie the Riveter,” with a robotic arm as their logo and personifies the “We Can Do It” motto while leveraging their digital media assets and channels to inspire youth, particularly young girls, to pursue their passions in STEM.
FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. FIRST annually hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO®League (FLL® ) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3.
“’Girls of Steel’ is a phenomenal team of future technologists that really stood out among their competitors with their robust digital media experience that took into account the numerous ways content is consumed, including engaging social and viral media,” said John Schanz, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer, Comcast Cable. “By supporting and serving as mentors to FIRST teams each year across the country, Comcast NBCUniversal is investing in future engineers and leaders in technology. We are thrilled to partner with FIRST for the third consecutive year to present the Media & Technology Innovation Award.”
"FIRST is thankful to Comcast NBCUniversal for recognizing the accomplishments of the ‘Girls of Steel’ and their digital prowess,” said FIRST President, Donald E. Bossi. “This award highlights one of the many 21st century skill sets that are a part of the FIRST experience.”
The Media & Technology Innovation Award, created in 2013 and sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, attracted more than 100 submissions this year. The teams were judged on criteria in the categories of strategy, overall experience, visual design, navigation, content, functionality and engagement. “Girls of Steel” were selected for their visually engaging website, which had a clean and easy to navigate design. Their branding is clear and is consistently used and threaded well throughout their multiple social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Tumblr. “Girls of Steel” created thoughtful and original content and resources to aid and inspire other FIRST teams, including a comic strip that illustrates what went into creating their robot.
Comcast has supported FIRST for many years through the sponsorship and mentorship of teams across the United States. In 2015, Comcast NBCUniversal sponsored and mentored 37 FIRST teams nationwide, 10 of which participated at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis last week.