‘L&N STEMpunks’ Win the 2016 Media & Technology Innovation Award Sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal
Knoxville, Tenn. Team Honored for Building Digital Awareness of
FIRST & STEM Education
PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition
of Science and Technology) and Comcast NBCUniversal today announced that
the Knoxville Tenn.-based “L&N
STEMpunks” (FIRST® Robotics
Competition (FRC) Team 3966) have won the 2016 Media & Technology
Innovation Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. This award
recognizes a FIRST team that creates a robust digital media
experience and marketing strategy to aid their team in fundraising and
in sharing the FIRST mission of encouraging science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) education with others.
The L&N STEMpunks topped this year’s group of highly competitive and
creative entrants by developing a robust, unified digital campaign, tied
together with a striking steampunk visual theme. The STEMpunks digital
portfolio includes well-curated social media handles, and is built
around an attractive, intuitive home page that highlights the team’s
progress in the FIRST® Robotics Competition, as
well as its work to advance STEM learning in its community.
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. FIRST
annually hosts the FIRST® Robotics
Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech
Challenge for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO®
League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST® LEGO® League
Jr. for Grades K-3.
“The L&N STEMpunks truly embody the spirit of the Media & Technology
Innovation Award,” said John Schanz, Executive Vice President and Chief
Network Officer, Comcast Cable. “Beyond rising to the challenge of
competing in one of the most rigorous competition yet, these young
technologists built a cohesive, powerful digital portfolio that advances
not just their efforts as a team, but the importance of STEM education
and the value of the FIRST community. We are proud to honor these
remarkable technologists and to continue our engagement with FIRST as
it works to shape the skilled technology workforce that will power the
next generation.”
“FIRST joins Comcast NBCUniversal in applauding the work of
the L&N STEMpunks to evangelize the work of their team and the power of
robotics to advance STEM learning,” said FIRST President, Donald
E. Bossi. “While FIRST may be most known for engineering and
robotics, the Media and Technology Innovation Award demonstrates yet
another important way in which FIRST helps to develop critical 21st
century skills.”
The Media & Technology Innovation Award, created in 2013 and sponsored
by Comcast NBCUniversal, attracted more than 120 submissions this year.
The teams were judged on criteria in the categories of strategy, overall
experience, visual design, navigation, content, functionality and
engagement. The L&N STEMpunks were selected for their clean and visually
stunning website, which features intuitive navigation and a rich trove
of information about the team, FIRST and STEM community outreach.
The team’s visual theme is instantly recognizable, and interwoven
throughout its multiple social media channels, including Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr.
Comcast NBCUniversal has supported FIRST for many years through
the sponsorship and mentorship of teams across the United States. In
2016, Comcast NBCUniversal sponsored and mentored 39 FIRST teams
nationwide, 10 of which participated at the FIRST Championship in
St. Louis last week.
To learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competition or the Media &
Technology Innovation Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal visit http://www.firstinspires.org.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology
company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet
and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and
also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news,
entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast
networks, television production operations, television station groups,
Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com
for more information.
Contacts
Comcast Corporation
David McGuire, 215-286-5240
david_mcguire@comcast.com
