Gershow Recycling supports high school robotics teams

Tony Kryl (far right) of the Westhampton Beach High School FIRST Robotics Competition Team (No. 3171), presents Jonathan Abrams (center) and CJ Linsalata (left) of Gershow Recycling with a team sponsor plaque during the Scrap Metal Day event held at Gershow’s Medford facility Dec. 3, 2016, in support of the FIRST Long Island program.

For the eighth year in a row, Gershow Recycling has opened its Medford, New York, scrap metal processing facility to 15 local high school robotics teams participating in the School-Business Partnerships of Long Island’s (SBPLI’s) upcoming Long Island Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.

Gershow’s Scrap Metal Day donation event Dec. 3, 2016, welcomed coaches, students and parents to collect nearly 1 ton of aluminum scrap metal. 

Following the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition kick-off, which took place Jan. 7, 2017, at Stony Brook University, each of the teams has six weeks to construct a 120-pound robot and prepare for the upcoming competition. During the six-week build period, students work with professional engineering mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. They then participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of the students.

Now entering its 18th season, the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition is held annually at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in late March or early April. More than 50 teams from Long Island, Brazil and the New York metropolitan area will take part in the two-day competition. 

The 15 Long Island teams represented at Gershow’s Scrap Metal Day included Bridgehampton High School (No. 5659); Central Islip High School (No. 4006); Center Moriches High School (No. 4458); Half Hollow Hills High School (No. 3624); Hauppauge High School (No. 358); Huntington High School (No. 5016); Kings Park High School (No. 5736); Longwood High School (No. 564); Miller Place High School (No. 514); North Shore High School (No. 3950); Plainview-Old Bethpage High School (No. 353); Townsend Harris High School (No. 2601); and Westhampton Beach High School (No. 3171). Two rookie teams, Our Lady of Mercy and Rocky Point/Shoreham, also attended the event, under the guidance of veteran team representatives.

Gershow has nine locations in New York: Brooklyn, New Hyde Park, Valley Stream, Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Bay Shore, Medford and Riverhead.

A nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, FIRST was founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen to inspire young people to pursue further studies and careers in science and technology.