It's not a traditional sporting event and it's certainly not a rock concert – but it looks and sounds a lot like both. That's how many people describe the crazy, competitive, highly educational and all-out fun of the FIRST Robotics Competition, high school's varsity sport of the mind.

FIRST in Michigan continues to grow with 172 high schools participating this season, up from 137 last year, and it announces new district competitions to take place in Livonia, Niles and Waterford. 

There are also more than $14 million in FIRST college scholarship opportunities nationwide this year.

"The new district at Waterford Mott High School is a milestone in FIRST Robotics," said Francois Castaing, FIRST in Michigan president. "It's the first time robotics trumped athletics in a high school gym." 

Mott was previously scheduled to host a Michigan High School Athletic Association girls basketball tournament the same dates.

"The decision to move the basketball tournament to another Waterford high school shows a huge commitment to a much-needed science, technology engineering and math focus in our educational system," Castaing said.

Teams locally and nationally are anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the 2011 game rules Saturday, Jan. 8 via a satellite transmission from NASA. Once the game objectives are announced, teams will immediately begin strategizing -- having just six weeks to complete a fully-functional robot from paper to competition ready.

Michigan teams have been on the winning alliance at six of the last seven national championships, which this year moves to St. Louis from Atlanta, which was the host for almost a decade.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is active in nearly 30 percent of all Michigan high schools, giving the Great Lakes State one of the highest participation rates in the country. The organization focuses on creating a high-energy environment that allows adult professional mentors to work side by side with high school students to show how much fun engineering, math, science and technology can be for a career choice.

"At a time when U.S. colleges of engineering find fewer and fewer students inclined to join them, industries need a steady flow of new, motivated engineers to tackle international competition and environmental challenges," Castaing said. "FIRST Robotics has proven repeatedly that high school students' misconceptions about careers in engineering and technology can be overcome. FIRST is the only varsity 'sport' in which all participants can actually turn pro."

As a result, the organization has been cited by President Obama's administration and other presidents before him as one of the best educational and motivational ways for students to start down the road of a career in engineering, science or technology.

There are nine Michigan district events, enabling all Michigan teams to compete at least twice within the state. Similar to sports tournament formats, district competition scoring will qualify teams for the 2011 Michigan State Championship (April 7-9 at Eastern Michigan University). From there, 18 teams will be eligible to advance to the international FIRST Championship in St. Louis, April 27-30. All competitions are free and open to the public.

The 2011 district event schedule is as follows:

* March 4-5: Kettering University District, Flint and the Traverse City Central High School District in Traverse City
* March 11-12: Waterford Mott High School District in Waterford Township
* March 18-19: Detroit District, Wayne State University and the West Michigan District, Grand Valley State University, Allendale
* March 25-26: Ann Ann Arbor Skyline High School District in Ann Arbor and the Niles High School District in Niles
* April 1-2: Livonia Churchill High School District in Livonia and the Troy Athens High School District in Troy.

Each year the new game is created by FIRST founder Dean Kamen, along with MIT and NASA officials. Last year's objective most closely resembled a soccer match on a field split up in thirds, with extra points scored by hanging the robot from a central post before the buzzer sounded. Teams compete in rotating alliances of three schools with the goal of helping each other rather than tearing each other apart. It's all part of FIRST's overall theme of "gracious professionalism."

FIRST in Michigan is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization responsible for implementing all FIRST programs in the state. Besides the 172 FIRST Robotics teams, there are another 310 FIRST Lego League  teams of elementary and middle school students with more than 3,000 students competing.

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., 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.

More at www.usfirst.org or www.firstinmichigan.org.