Austin, Texas Girl Scout Team #2881 - The Lady Cans - Wins Most Prestigious Award in 2017 FIRST® Robotics Lone Star North Regional Competition

What is the FIRST Robotics Competition?  It is the ultimate sport for the mind. Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of high school students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-sized robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It's as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

How did Girl Scout Team #2881 become "the Duck Tape^® girls"? As the team first assembled to design their team "brand," they determined the multi-color stripes (similar to the boxes of Girl Scout cookies) would be their signature look.  And since the five colors also happened to be in the color palette of Duck^® brand Duck Tape^®, they utilized the product not only to build their robots – but to create their trademark look of rainbow-striped Duck Tape^® hats and shoes.  Soon after in 2013, Duck^® brand agreed to become an official sponsor, providing the team with rolls of Duck Tape^®.  

"To see these girls excel in STEM fields is truly inspiring and we're excited to have been part of the team's spirit since the beginning," said Bill Kahl, executive vice president of marketing at ShurTech Brands, LLC, the company that markets the Duck^® brand.  "Knowing the unlimited uses of Duck Tape^®, we strive to support these young, fearless learners to use our products to create, design, invent and make their dreams and concepts realities."

In the 2017 FIRST Robotics Lone Star North Competition, the group competed against 33 teams with approximately 1,000 participants ages 14 to 18 – coming out on top in two categories.  And, while the 2017 Chairman's and Woodie Flowers Awards are the highest accolades they've earned to date, the group has won 15 other prestigious awards since 2009 in the Texas regional competitions. 

"We're proud of the variety of awards these young women have earned, as it shows their strength, commitment and intelligence," said Susie Rich, mentor of the Lady Cans and recipient of the 2017 Woodie Flowers Award.  "While the robots we create are amazing, the true success is the real-life communication skills learned and the number of female students we have inspired to pursue careers in science and technology."

"This is not the first – nor the last – we'll see of these inspiring ladies," remarked Kahl.  "Their 'CAN do' spirit embodies what the Duck^® brand stands for. There are no limits for creativity and ingenuity. If you can dream it… you can make it.  We look forward to seeing them push the boundaries of science – and their imaginations – to continue their accomplishments in the future."

The Lady Cans compete next in the 2017 FIRST^® Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas on April 19 – 22.  To learn more about the Lady Cans FIRST Robotics Team, visit frcteam2881.com.  For more information about Duck^® brand, visit www.duckbrand.com.

FIRST^®  
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $50 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST^® Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST^® Tech Challenge for Grades 7-12; FIRST^®LEGO^® League for Grades 4-8; and FIRST^® LEGO^® League Jr. for Grades K-4. Gracious Professionalism^® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org

DUCK TAPE^® BRAND DUCT TAPE
An American original, Duck^® brand is known for its quality and innovation, which now includes a vibrant assortment of hundreds of colors, designs and licenses. Duck Tape^® brand duct tape is available nationally at mass merchandise, craft, hardware, home center, food, drug, office, auto and specialty retailers in colors such as gold, electric blue, fluorescent pink, green and terracotta, and designs such as Galaxy, Love Tie Dye and Metallic Gold Stars.

Duck Tape^®, marketed by ShurTech Brands, LLC, offers a vast array of innovative, forward-thinking solutions that help everyone – from DIYers to crafters – bring their ideas to life. The brand sets trends, inspires creativity and leads the way in crafting, DIY projects and more, giving you the tools you need to create anything you can dream. Visit duckbrand.com for additional product information. And, keep up-to-date on Duck Brand^® news by joining our more than 5 million fans on Facebook^® (facebook.com/ducktape), following us on Twitter^® (@theduckbrand) and Instagram (@theduckbrand), following our boards on Pinterest^® (pinterest.com/theduckbrand) and watching us on YouTube^® (youtube.com/theduckbrand).

SHURTECH BRANDS, LLC
ShurTech Brands, LLC, markets DIY (Do It Yourself), EIY (Express It Yourself) and Home & Office consumer products under the Duck^®, FrogTape^®, T-REX^® Tape, Painter's Mate Green^® and Shurtape^® brands. The company is a subsidiary of Shurtape Technologies, LLC, Hickory, N.C., an industry-leading producer of pressure sensitive masking, duct, packaging and specialty tape products, with facilities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Peru, United Arab Emirates and China. Shurtape services numerous markets, including industrial, packaging, HVAC, professional paint, auto, marine, aerospace, arts and entertainment, and retail. Shurtape also manufactures and markets the Shurtape^® and Kip^® brands. Visit shurtech.com for more information.

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SOURCE ShurTech Brands, LLC