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 (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) 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 for them.  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 unique game challenge that changes each year.

Described as the "varsity" of FIRST, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), operates using a 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 (this practice will be discontinued in 2020, due to an ongoing discussion of equity and inclusion), not to be opened until competition.  The teams (of which there are currently 3,647 across 27 countries) then attend 2 district championships within their state. Attaining a high enough score in these allows your team to advance to State Championships. Winning there allows you to advance to World Championships, where the final winner is crowned.

Some of the benefits of FRC include:

• "FRC prepares students 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, 2014 Team Leader
• "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
• "FRC teaches young people how to be leaders and innovators so they can tackle the problems of the future head on." Quinn, Team Member
• "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​