FRC: Pre-College Initiative Events

Competitions

Team Engineering Design Competition (EDC)

The purpose of the Team Engineering Design Competition is to expose our pre-college students to a hands-on, team oriented, collaborative activity that involves mathematics, physics, and different disciplines of engineering. There is a middle school and high school division of the competition. Teams consist of four NSBE Jr. members and ONE advisor. Each team member is assigned a job title which include:

• 1 Industrial Engineer
• 1 Mechanical Engineer
• 1 Electrical Engineer
• 1 Computer Engineer

Teams are required to purchase thier own robotics kit, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0, to participate in the competition (for specific kit details see the attached toolkit). Teams will design, build, program and test their robot before coming to FRC, where they will compete in the Robotics Exhibition with other teams from Region 2. Continuous documentation of progress and learning must be recorded and submitted to the EDC team via e-mail at edc_nsbe@yahoo.com Teams are also required to prepare a 5-7 minute oral presentation that they will present to the judges before competing and that as well must be sent to the EDC team at nsbe.edc@gmail.com.

Try-Math-a-lon (TMAL) Competition

The TMAL competition is held between teams composed of high school students in grades 9-12. The purpose of the competition is to help groom TMAL team members for success in STEM courses and prepare them for standardized SAT/ACT testing. Each team will consist of four NSBE Jr. members and one mandatory alternate member (teams CANNOT consist of 4 seniors!!). Each team is required to have a coach (1 coach can act as a coach for several teams) who will manage and train the teams. Each team must submit a TMAL package which includes the Team List, Student Information Sheet, Aptitude Survery and Pre-Test (attached).

There are three(3) main events to this competition:

1. Progress Assessment Test (PAT): timed test given to assess students' ability in response to various standardized test math questions (no calculators allowed).
2. The Engineering Contest (TEC): timed test administered to team as a group to test ability to solve a real-world engineering problem (one calculator allowed per team, teams must bring their own calculator!!)
3. The Quiz Bowl: the final event, similar to televised game show Jeopardy. Subjects include (Math, Science, NSBE History and Black Inventors)

Science Fair

The Science Fair gives our pre-college students the opportunity to showcase thier scientific abilities through research and presentation of a topic of their particular interest. There are two classifications: Junior: 6th-8th grades and Senior: 9th-12th grades. All participants must submit a 500 word minimum abstract, a written formal report and submit their transcript to NSBE World Headquarters. Projects must fit within one of three categories:

Biological/Life Sciences: Botany, Ecology, etc. Physical Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, etc. Engineering: Electronics, Robotics, Mechanics, etc.

Participants will prepare a project display and be given a maximum of 10 minutes to present their project to the judges.

Workshop Previews

"Becoming a NSBE Leader"

Do you consider yourself a leader? Do you have that 2222 HYPE NSBE Luv? Whether you do or not, come out and learn how to become a leader in the nation's largest student-run organization. Learn what it takes to be a leader, the benefits of taking on leadership positions and interactive with your own Regional Chairperson, Calvin Phelps!

"Computational Hip-Hop"

Most people think engineering is dull and boring. We're shattering all those stereotypes with this fun and interactive workshop. Learn how we can use computer science and engineering to create those hot beats you hear on the radio everyday! Swizz Beats aint got nothing on us!

"Mastering the SAT"

The SAT is one of the most important exams you will take in your academic career. It is the one exam that can determine if you get into the college/university of your choice. Come out to this workshop as KAPLAN Test Prep gives you insight on everything you need to know about the SAT, scholarships, financial aid, college admissions and more!