MBUSA Sponsors Eight New Jersey High School Teams in First Robotics Competition

Six Week Collaboration Between Students and Mercedes-Benz USA Volunteers Aims to Produce Winning Robot Design

MONTVALE, N.J., March 18 -- Nearly 150 New Jersey high school students have the opportunity to test their knowledge of science and engineering by building competition-ready robots through FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) Robotics with support from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). A supporter of FIRST since 2002, MBUSA is sponsoring eight northern New Jersey High School teams as they prepare for the 2005 New Jersey FIRST Robotics Competition on March 18-19 at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. The event tests high school students' design, engineering, strategy and teamwork by challenging them to solve a sophisticated engineering project: building a competition-ready robot.

MBUSA-supported FIRST teams participating in the competition, include: Pascack Valley Regional High School and Hackensack High Schools in Bergen County and Technology, Central, University, Science, Barringer and West Side High Schools in Essex County. The Pascack Valley Regional High School "rookie" team in Montvale, N.J., which is the most recent addition to the MBUSA/FIRST roster, designed its robot under the direction of teachers from the school's science and technology department in collaboration with volunteers from MBUSA's Montvale headquarters. Their creation, which was designed, built and tested in only six weeks using a common "kit of parts" and a standard set of rules developed by FIRST, will compete against the robotic inventions of 52 other teams at this regional event.

"Through the intense, one-and-a-half-month process of designing and building robots, we hope students develop not only a passion for science and technology, but an appreciation for what it means to work as a team toward a common goal," said Paul Halata, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "Ours is a brand with a century-long heritage of excellence in technology, design and innovation -- and that is something that we hope to inspire in children. Initiatives like these are invaluable and make learning complex concepts enjoyable and engaging. And, of course they help build skills for a future career."

"Mercedes-Benz was not only a financial supporter of our team, but equally important was the employee-mentoring commitment from the company," said Erik Gundersen, supervisor of science, technology and business, Pascack Valley Regional High School District. "Mercedes-Benz employees worked with the team on a regular basis during the six week project. They conducted training seminars with our programming, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams and introduced students to complicated concepts in pneumatics and other mechanical processes. As a result of this partnership, our students really got to see what it is like for an engineer to tackle a problem, exchange ideas with one another, and develop and implement a design that can participate successfully in the FIRST Robotics game."

"With Mercedes-Benz USA's support, more high school students are experiencing the process of technological innovation," said Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder. "FIRST is about celebrating young men and women working smart in science and technology -- not only to have them sharpen their problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills while gaining knowledge of computer science and engineering concepts, but also to let them know that their accomplishments are important in the world in which we live and work. Technological innovation is an engine of economic growth and an important tool in addressing many of the challenges we confront as a global community."

The winner of the New Jersey FIRST Robotics Competition will go on to compete in the 2005 FIRST Robotics Championship Event taking place April 21-23 in Atlanta.

In addition to team support, MBUSA offers scholarships to graduating high school students involved in FIRST Robotics. Through DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program, students who are the first in their families to pursue a college education are eligible to win $2,000, one-time scholarships. Applicants are evaluated based on academic achievement, leadership, participation in school and community activities and financial need. Scholarship winners from FIRST teams will be announced in May.

About FIRST

FIRST was founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen. Student teams work with professional mentors from universities and corporations to design and build a winning robotic design. FIRST inspires in young people, their schools and communities, an appreciation and understanding of the importance of science and technology. For more information about the FIRST organization, visit http://www.usfirst.org/.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. Through its philanthropic program, MBUSA focuses on educating and empowering future generations, particularly those who are underserved. The company views education as an opportunity to ensure that as many of today's youth as possible are given the tools, guidance and support they need to reach their full potential. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/ and http://www.maybachusa.com/.