About FIRST

"Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation  and the foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership." from www.firstinspires.org

FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology.  Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

Students from Kindergarten through High School can find a robotics program.  FIRST is divided into four age groups:

• FIRST Lego League Jr.-K to 3rd grades
• FIRST Lego League-4th to 8th grades
• FIRST Tech Challenge-9th to 12th grades
• FIRST Robotics Competition-9th to 12th grades

Each division has a specific game that changes each year.

Described as the "varsity" of FIRST, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique system where teams have only six weeks to design, build, program, and tweak their robots for competition.  The Kickoff Event (the 1st Saturday of January) announces the game challenge and "build season" begins.  On the 45th day of build season, every team places their robot in a bag and seals it, not to be opened until competition.  The teams (there are currently 2,548 teams across the globe) then attend a regional of their choice.  There are 60 regionals across the US and Canada with one regional in Israel.  The winners of each regional advance to the FIRST Championship which is currently held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Some of the benefits of FRC include:

• "FRC prepares studens for engineering careers in the "real-world" and gives them the opportunity to use some of the same equipment that major industrial engineering companies are using today." Allison, Class of 2012 Alumni
• "FRC teaches students how to solve problems in a logical way and how to collaborate with other people" Inaya, Team Lead
• "FRC builds a student's project management, engineering and social skills.  Not to mention how the international relations and cultural diversity of FIRST has taught us how to appreciate all people" Catherine, Class of 2012 Alumni
• "Most importantly FRC draws students into engineering which gives them an outlet for their undeveloped interest in science and technology" Kori, Team Member

For more information on FIRST please visit www.firstinspires.org

To become a sponsor of FIRST Robotics, visit http://www.firstinspires.org/ways-to-help/become-a-sponsor​