A Scholarship “First” for FIRST ─ Rogers Williams Awards $200,000 to FIRST LEGO League Team

Photo contributed by FLL Team "No School, Foster-Glocester" 

For the first time in the 10-year history of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) program, a New England college has offered scholarships to the competition’s winners.

At the 2008 FLL “Climate Connections” tournament held in Rhode Island in January, Roger Williams University (RWU) awarded a total of $200,000 in scholarship money to all 10 members of the winning team. Along with the prestigious FLL trophy, team members of “No School, Foster-Glocester” from Foster, Rhode Island each received four-year scholarships of $5,000 annually to attend the Bristol, Rhode Island-based college.

“The youngest team member is 10 years old and she has a scholarship waiting for her already. We thank Roger Williams University for telling our team (in a huge way) that the work that they – middle schoolers – did is important and meaningful. Who knows where this gift will take them!” said Team Coach, Mary Lurgio.

Hosted at RWU since 2007, the event attracted more than 40 teams to the campus. The program is supported locally by the Rhode Island School of the Future, a non-profit organization that helps schools improve the lifelong learning skills of their students and teachers.
 
"Offering scholarships at the middle-school level is a unique incentive that will help FIRST and RWU reach the shared goal of inspiring young people to develop a deep appreciation for science and technology, while making a positive impact on the students and their community,” said FIRST President, Paul R. Gudonis.

"FIRST has a rich history of developing creative programs that encourage careers in science and technology, and Roger Williams University is delighted to help support this mission locally," said Lynn Fawthrop, Senior Vice President of enrollment and advancement at RWU that is recognized as a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university. "Offering scholarships to children who show a budding promise in the sciences is a solid investment in the future of Rhode Island and in RWU's continued academic excellence."