High school students compete at the 2009 FIRST Robotics Bayou Regional competition held March 19-21 in New Orleans.

Supriya Jindal takes a turn at the controls of a competing robot during a visit to the 2009 FIRST Robotics Bayou Regional tournament. Jindal joined NASA at two events in New Orleans on March 19.

Students from 38 high school teams in seven states competed for top honors during the 2011 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Bayou Regional competition held March 17-19 in the New Orleans area. In this photo, members of the robotics team from Gulfport High School guide their robot during the annual tournament. The robotics competition is designed to help encourage students to pursue studies and careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. John C. Stennis Space Center is a supporter of FIRST activities and the Bayou Regional tournament.

Students (left) from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi, Miss., prepare their robot during the 2009 FIRST Robotics Bayou Regional competition.

Students (left) from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi, Miss., maneuver their robot during the 2009 Bayou Regional competition.

Student-built robots maneuver the course during the 2010 Bayou Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition in Westwego on March 5-6. The annual competition drew 36 high school teams from eight states. NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center supports FIRST Robotics by providing financing, mentors and training, as well as competition judges and referees, audiovisual staff and other volunteer personnel.

Louisiana First Lady Supriya Jindal takes a turn at the operating controls for a competing robot during the 2009 FIRST Robotics Bayou Regionals tournament in New Orleans on March 19-21. Jindal was hosted during her visit by the NASA Education Office at the John C. Stennis Space Center, a primary sponsor and supporter of the annual robotics competition.

Spectators crew on teams during the 2012 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Bayou Regional Competition March 15-17, 2012, in Kenner, La. Students from 49 high school teams in six states participated in the annual robotics tournament.

NASA engineers Scott Olive (left) and Bo Clarke answer questions during the 2007 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition regional kickoff event held Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. The SSC employees and FIRST Robotics volunteer mentors are standing near a mock-up of the playing field for the FIRST Robotics' 2007 `Rack n' Roll' challenge. Roughly 300 students and adult volunteers - representing 29 high schools from four states - attended the kickoff to hear the rules of `Rack n' Roll.' The teams will spend the next six weeks building and programming robots from parts kits they received Saturday, then battle their creations at regional spring competitions in New Orleans, Houston, Atlanta and other cities around the nation. FIRST aims to inspire students in the pursuit of engineering and technology studies and careers.