Vehicle Challenge Goes Virtual, Robotics Challenge Scholarship Remains Open

With the recent travel bans, event cancellations, and school closings, concerns about Coronavirus are top of mind for everyone. Due to circumstances surrounding some of our partner organizations, such as schools, a number of events organized or supported by NFPA have been affected.

Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge

To ensure that all of the participants, judges, and other volunteers could take part amid all of the travel policies, campus closings and group work restrictions that have been implemented to prevent the spread of COVID- 19, the 2020 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge will transition to a virtual event.

Specific details will be confirmed and communicated to those affected as soon as possible in the coming weeks. As of right now, it’s been confirmed that the virtual event will occur during the same scheduled dates, April 15-18, 2020, and will consist of judged final student presentations as well as information sessions from supporting companies for students. Any questions can be directed to Stephanie Scaccianoce at sscaccianoce@nfpa.com.

Fluid Power Robotics Challenge

One major partner event cancellation is the FIRST Robotics Championship. Despite the cancellations, the NFPA 2020 Robotics Challenge Scholarship will still be awarded. Teams that built their robot with pneumatics on it can apply for this scholarship.

NFPA members who mentor FIRST Robotics or NRL teams or who know students and schools that participate in these programs are encouraged to spread the word that the scholarship is available. Any questions can be directed to Lynn Beyer at lbeyer@nfpa.com.