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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Many of the 41 teams competing in the 2004 Florida Regional FIRST competition at the University of Central Florida are seen here preparing their robots for a match. KSC sponsored the “Pink” team of Cocoa Beach and Rockledge High School students. Among observers at the annual event were Center Director Jim Kennedy and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who spoke at the event luncheon. FIRST is a nonprofit organization, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, that sponsors the event pitting gladiator robots against each other in an athletic-style competition. The FIRST robotics competition is designed to provide students with a hands-on, inside look at engineering and other professional careers, pairing high school students with engineer mentors and corporations.