LOCAL Houston | The City Guide June 2017 | Page 72

SCENE
EVENT: FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
WHERE: GEORGE R. BROWN, MINUTE MAID PARK, DISCOVERY GREEN
More than 15,000 students – from Kindergarten to 12th grade,
from around the world – traveled to Houston, to put their innovation
skills to the test at the annual FIRST Championship presented by
Qualcomm Incorporated, at the George R. Brown, Minute Maid
Park and Discovery Green.
The four-day event, attended by nearly 30,000 people, came
ended April 22 in front of thousands of cheering fans at Minute
Maid Park when teams from FIRST ® Robotics Competition and
FIRST® Tech Challenge competed in match finals. Four teams from
Atascadero, California; Tucson, Arizona; Seattle, Washington;
and Berkeley, California, earned the FIRST Robotics Competition
Winning Alliance award. The Robonauts, a team made up from
students from Clear Creek ISD and mentors, NASA engineers, made
it to the final matches at Minute Maid Park, but ultimately fell short
of the win.
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,
New Hampshire, 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.
Photography provided by FIRST
EVENT: CHILDREN’S ASSESSMENT
CENTER 18TH ANNUAL
SPIRIT OF SPRING LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW
WHERE: ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL
The Children’s Assessment Center celebrated their 18th
Annual Spirit of Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show at the
Royal Sonesta Hotel the evening of April 20. Supporters
raised $250,000 for programs that are critical to the
healing of child victims of sexual abuse. The guest speak-
er, Rachel Thomas, M. Ed., Director of Sowers Education
Group and a survivor of human trafficking, shared her
story of triumph over tragedy and how her team of educa-
tors sow seeds of sex trafficking awareness and survivor
empowerment.
Event Chairs Ericka Bagwell, Diane Caplan and Ursaline
Hamilton and Underwriting Chairs Rhonda and Mike
Graff planned a delightful afternoon with the perfect mix of
fabulous spring and summer fashions coupled with a focus
on the issues of child sexual abuse and how this com-
munity can better protect our children. Neiman Marcus
presented “The Art of Fashion” with a special showing of
Spring 2017 from Lafayette 148.

Photography by Kim Coffman
72
L O C A L
| june 17