PTC Underscores Commitment to STEM Education Program

By DE Editors

PTC (Needham, MA) will expand its sponsorship of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), building upon the company’s inaugural sponsorship of the 2008 FIRST Robotics Competition.

The goals of FIRST align with PTC’s commitment to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives to strengthen core education fundamentals and provide career paths. FIRST strives to engage students in grades K-12 in exciting and innovative programs designed around the use of robotics to develop science and technology skills and motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering.

In 2008, PTC served as the Collaboration Partner of FIRST, hosting a Windchill system that was used by more than 100 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams to manage their projects. Windchill allows teams working from any location to securely control, store, and access all competition information in a single location. PTC also made Pro/ENGINEER Schools Edition (3D CAD software) and Mathcad (engineering calculation software) available to all FIRST Robotics Competition teams.

As part of its 2009 sponsorship, PTC will co-sponsor ten new teams with PTC customers and eight regional events. The company is also sponsoring scholarship funds to be awarded to students interested in studying STEM disciplines at the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology.

To learn more about this exciting partnership, visit PTC or learn more about FIRST.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.