About FIRST Robotics
FIRST is an acronym for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” Each year, high school students from across the world form teams to design and build a robot to compete at competitions based on specific game criteria. Every year, the new game is announced in January and teams have six weeks to design, build, and program their robot. Although there are restrictions on the materials that can be used, each robot is always unique. At the end of the six weeks, regional competitions are held, and the winners of those competitions advance to the World championships competition held in Houston or Detroit. At all the regional and World Championship competitions, teams strive to earn awards such as the Chairman’s Award, the Creativity Award, and the Team Spirit Award.
More Than Robots
FIRST is more than just building robots. It is about finding life long passions and fostering innovation for upcoming generations. This organization advocates for the diffusion of everyday life and STEM while inspiring people from all walks to pursue their interests. It’s all in their name, “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”. By recognizing and celebrating the importance of science and technology, FIRST has impacted thousands of lives. Each and everyday people are inspired by this organization in some way or another. Children seeing a functioning robot for the first time become awed and think it’s a work of magic. High school students discover STEM-based challenging activities while qualifying for scholarships opportunities through their involvement in this program. Mentors have the opportunity to teach indispensable skills to the next generation of Scientists and Engineers. As a result of this hands on program, participants are required to challenge themselves in order to solve what seems like impossible problems. FIRST teaches so much more than how to build a robot, it teaches business skills, gracious professionalism, and how to effectively communicate with others within and across teams. So thank you, FIRST, for being a program that is so much more than building a robot.