School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc.’s (SBPLI) and Festo Corporation have announced that voting is now open for the Festo Facebook photo contest. The photos were submitted between April 5 and April 15 by high school students who registered for this year’s Long Island Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC).

Contestants were required to submit a photo of their robot that was used in the Long Island Regional FRC and explain in 75 words or less about the robot’s design and how they have incorporated the values of FIRST Robotics. The winner and nine teammates will receive a tour of Festo’s U.S. robotics laboratory in Hauppauge at a date to be determined sometime in July 2013.

Voters can log on to http://on.fb.me/12BjGMa and choose their favorite robot photo and the accompanying essay they like best. Deadline is April 30. The winning photo will be chosen on May 1.

This contest is part of a continuing partnership between SBPLI and Festo. Since 2001, Festo has been providing financial and technical support to SBPLI’s Long Island Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC). Even when the economy faced its ups and downs, Festo has contributed well over $300,000 over the years to support SBPLI in running this event and other FIRST robotics programs, as well as providing components for the kits of parts that the students nationwide receive at the beginning of the FRC season.

The company has not only donated money to SBPLI and supported its programs, but also encouraged employees to volunteer their time to mentor FIRST Robotics teams. In furthering its relationship with SBPLI, Festo has FRC program alumni participate in their internships at the company.

For more information on Festo, visit www.festo.com/us.