CHARLESTON — Appalachian Power has awarded 11 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics grants from AEP to area school teams totaling $16,250.

Ralph Willis Career Center and Mingo County Career Center were each awarded $5,000 as part of the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Chapmanville High School was awarded $1,750, and Tug Valley High School was awarded $2,000 as part of the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Logan High School, Man High School, Mingo County Career Center were each awarded $500 as part of the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Chapmanville Middle School, Logan Middle School, Man Middle School and Mingo County Career Center were each awarded $250 as part of the FIRST LEGO League robotics team grants.

FIRST is a multi-national robotics competition that teams professionals and high school students to solve an engineering problem in an intense and competitive way. The brainchild of Dean Kamen, entrepreneur and inventor of the Segway gyroscopic personal electric scooter, FIRST competitions are high-tech spectator sporting events demonstrating participants' success in brainstorming, teamwork and meeting deadlines.

FIRST LEGO League, modeled after the FIRST Robotics Competition for high school teams, is designed for younger students. A partnership between the LEGO toy company and FIRST, FIRST LEGO League brings the excitement and rewards of learning science, math and technology to life using real-world context and hands-on experimentation for children ages 9-14 (FIRST LEGO League).

AEP's FIRST robotics grant initiative is one of several companywide programs supporting pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students, with an emphasis on science, math and technology education and careers.

"Appalachian Power is critically aware of the need for strong science and technology education programs," said Mark Dempsey, vice president - external affairs. "We are proud to help students and leaders of these robotics teams as they pursue firsthand experiences in science and technology and explore career opportunities."

AEP awarded funding to nearly 70 FIRST, FIRST Tech Challenge., FIRST LEGO League and Junior FIRST LEGO League teams across its 11-state service territory for the 2011-12 competitive season. More information on FIRST robotics can be found at www. usfirst. orq .