WHO: UNLV's Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering will play host to more than 1,200 high school students on 43 teams from throughout the nation - including 14 Clark County School District high schools - during the fourth annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.

WHEN: Friday, March 28, 2008
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Matches 9:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Awards 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 29, 2008
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Matches 9:50 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Final Rounds 1 to 3 p.m.
Awards 3 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV

DETAILS: The event is free and open to the public. All the excitement of a championship football game, but with much more at stake--the FIRST Robotics competition combines elements of sport with science and technology in a high-energy, team-driven contest that has inspired thousands of high school students to pursue careers in science and engineering.

The theme of this year's event is "Overdrive," during which robots race around a 54' by 27' track knocking down giant inflated Trackballs and moving them around the track and over or under a 6'6" overpass. Extra points are scored by robots re-positioning the Trackballs back on the overpass before the end of each 2 minute and 15 second match.

For a complete list of teams and additional event information, log on to www.usfirst.org or contact Tony Allen at 895-0893.