National Robotics League Announces 2012 National Championships to be Held in Indianapolis

NTMA Sponsored League Helps Students Learn Skills Needed for Careers in Manufacturing
Independence, OH—March 2, 2012—Indiana will once again host mayhem in the ring when robot gladiators collide at the 2012 National Robotics League (NRL) Championships at the Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis on May 5-6, 2012, the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) announced today.  NTMA created the NRL, a robot combat competition, to introduce a new generation of Americans to manufacturing.  This is the second year in a row that the National Championships will be held in Indianapolis.
NTMA founded the NRL to help change misperceptions about manufacturing and attract a new generation of students to well-paying technical careers.  The program partners teams of middle school, high school, and post-secondary school students with local NTMA manufacturers to work together to build robots designed to do battle.  The result is not only a destruction-driven face-off of incredible machines, but also an opportunity to develop high-tech skills and cultivate the interest of a new generation of students who will determine the future of manufacturing.
“This is a great way to teach students technical skills and interest them in careers in manufacturing,” said Ron Overton, CEO of Mooresville, IN-based Overton Industries and a member of the NTMA Board of Directors.  “There are more than 600,000 openings in manufacturing for skilled workers, with this number to rise even further as the economy picks up steam.  We need to attract a new generation of bright, skilled Americans to fill these well-paying jobs.  “Beyond the fun and action-packed excitement of the competition, NRL establishes great relationships between local manufacturers and local schools.”
“For NTMA, the NRL helps combat negative stereotypes of manufacturing and introduces these students to potential careers in this important sector,” added NTMA COO Rob Akers.  “NTMA members are eager to hire new workers for positions that offer wages and benefits that exceed those of most service sector jobs.   Incredibly, many of these jobs are unfilled because manufacturers are having trouble finding enough skilled applicants.”
The National Championship matches will feature student teams who have competed in NRL-sanctioned competitions across the U.S.  Clashes begin Saturday, May 5 with preliminary rounds followed by quarterfinals, semi-finals and final rounds that will take place through Sunday, May 6.  Circle Centre Mall in located at 49 West Maryland St. in Indianapolis.
Media can register for the event by contacting Caitlin Andrews at 202-828-7637 or caitlin.andrews@bgllp.com.
For additional information, visit the NRL website at www.gonrl.org.  For additional information on NTMA, visit www.ntma.org.