PRESS ROOM & NEWS

MANCHESTER, N.H., and AARHUS, Denmark, February 2, 2012 ― FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL^®), an alliance between FIRST^® and the LEGO Group, today announced that Vestas Wind Systems A/S, a long running global sponsor of FLL, has renewed its support of the program for an additional three-year period.

“The goals of FIRST LEGO League match perfectly with Vestas,” said Rikke Harbo, Specialist, Sponsorships, for Vestas Wind Systems. “The future of our planet depends on encouraging young people with a strong interest in science and technology. Vestas also has a strong interest in supporting FLL’s goals as these children are our best source for potential future employees.”

The continuing sponsorship will allow FLL and Vestas to engage and inspire even more students in science, technology, mathematics, and innovation. In the 2011-2012 season, more than 200,000 children from more than 60 countries are expected to participate in FLL.

“Vestas is an important international company that recognizes the value of supporting the mission of FIRST LEGO League,” said Jon Dudas, president of FIRST. “We know that the earlier we can inspire students about science and technology, the better chance we have that they will pursue careers in these fields.”

This is the second consecutive time that Vestas has renewed its sponsorship of FLL, which educates youth ages 9 - 16 (9 - 14 in the US/CAN/MEX) about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and shows these young people how exciting these fields can be.

“Many Vestas employees give of their time and talents to inspire and enrich students with a love of science and technology,” said Anna Maenhout, director of FIRST LEGO League. “Global conservation and preservation as well as resource recovery has been a critical element of FLL team projects. That’s why we’re thrilled that Vestas is committed to continuing our successful partnership and collaboration.”

About Vestas

Vestas Wind Systems A/S is relentlessly committed to wind. Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a pioneer of 30 years in wind energy, with the world's largest R&D centre, real-time monitoring of thousands of turbines and over 20,000 people worldwide focusing solely on wind, Vestas strives to bring wind on par with oil and gas. Vestas is the leading producer of high technological wind power solutions and has installed over 44,500 wind turbines in 67 countries. Vestas' core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind technology that uses the energy of the wind to generate electricity.

About FIRST LEGO League

FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL^®) is an international program for 9 to 16 year-old children (9 to 14 in US/CAN/MEX) created by an alliance between FIRST and The LEGO Group in 1998 to get children excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable employment and life skills. Using LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® technologies and LEGO Education materials, children work alongside adult Coaches to design, build, and program autonomous robots and create an innovative solution to a problem as part of their research project. After eight intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. Like any other organized “sport,” teams also fundraise, create a team identity, and participate in field trips.